Esteemed Galoots,
Ok, here goes, even though I've posted but one item (a response to a
query) to the porch in the 3? 5? months I've been subscribed but
lurking/watching. Please forgive any spelling faux pas - lack of
asterisks where appropriate - that I may commit. I apologize for the
length (after rereading), but I was in a chatty mood this evening.
Hi.
Es nombre y Jason, and I'm suffering from a condition known as "Normite
vs. Neanderthal", or, as it may be more commonly known, "Neandernorm"
and/or "Normanderthal." I blame my condition on a number of persons, but
I digress...
I'm a late-20s (I'll be turning 30 in a few months and don't know if I'm
a late-Boomer, a GenX'er, a GenY'er, or a Lost Cause) woodbutcher who
resides in a suburb of Atlanta, GA. I'm employed by a rather large
computer-related company (the home office is located at Old/New Orchard
Road, Armonk, NY), and currently earn my paycheck in a sales position,
hawking software dealing with issues ranging from internet security to
online commerce.
(This is at odds with my personal well-being, as I am an "old" techie at
heart/trade, and don't get to "play around" as much as I used to. Who
decided techs make good sales folx? I am of the opinion this logic is
flawed, but those folx who deemed it so are probably those Who Are Upper
Management And Know Better.)
Which is probably a good explanation as to why I added woodworking to my
hobbies/stuff to do/whatever about 15-18 months ago. I am but a
woodbutcher at this point, and I know it. I've built a functional
workbench, two stepstools, and a (lets see if I get this right) r**tah
table from scritch. But I'm learning, and having fun.
Before I get too far and forget, let me add the rest of my personal
background:
I am once-married/divorced, and found myself ex-fianced about five months
ago. As such, I have no small persons knocking about my knees, but miss
the cat I used to possess a long time ago.
My "previous" (and still current) pastimes are cooking and dorking with
cars. If you're ever in Atlanta and need a quick steak fix, talk to me
before you go to Bones, Ruth's Chris, or, heaven forbid, Outback.. I'll
hook you up. :)
As far as cars go, one of these days I'm gonna get a '69 Camaro or a '72
Nova... and a virgin big block from the factory.. find a metal shop who
can balance and blueprint.. high-rise manifold.. Weiland blower..
Eldebrock tunnel ram.. nasty-wicked cam lobes.. add weird majik and my
own ministrations.. Sorry.. Pardon the drool. I'm back now.
During my now-expired fianceeship, I acquired a house. I had a boatload
of mechanics tools, but one corded drill. I got an itch to work on wood,
thanks to my uncle (whom I consider a master craftsman/carver/maker),
primarily. So I started buying a lot of corded things. Don't get me
wrong; I am quite proud of my small assortment of p*w*h tools. They're
good quality, and they work well. But I felt a further need..? urge..?
Especially after said uncle sent me a set of chisels.
Ok, this is getting WAY too long, so cut to the chase time. I now own a
bunch of stanley planes - no bedrocks, but some are older, and know how
to count from #3-#8C on what I own. I spend too much time at B&G at
work. I want a stealth Galoot hat. And I find that I really enjoy using
the planes; I even bought a few braces! (I use 'em, too!) Got s'more
chisels. Picked up a few handsaws.. You get the idea.
I think the bug has taken hold, as I reach for the handsaws more than the
jigsaw, and the Stanleys more than the p*w*h s*nd*h. But the J*t table
saw still makes me squishy. Ain't nobody taking my cordless D*W*lt to
drive screws when needed. Hence my "Neandernorm" or "Normanderthal"
syndrome. Who knows where I will end up - but I'm enjoying every bit of
it!
I have enjoyed reading and learning from the group, and look forward to
doing so in the future!
Thanks folx,
Jason
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