Finally, Reinforcements

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11/6

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Not just a creativity log today, but I will start with one. . .

I.

Other than the piece I am writing right now, the only other thing I

will create here on Saturday is the lapboard I am using to hold up

the laptop I am typing these words on.

This piece actually means a lot to me. The board is from a little

writing desk that my grandfather had made for me when I was a child.

The bench underneath was a little storage chest and the writing

surface was connected to arms that could come down to make it able to

be a desk.

When my mother moved in with her now-husband, I inherited the piece.

At the time I took the arms off of it and used the chest to store some

stuff, but that left the top writing surface in the wood pile.

Well, now I cut it down to a size that works as a lapboard. The lines

for cutting were marked on one of my Grandma's old pencils. I did the

first cut about 90% of the way with an inherited jigsaw, but I got sick

of the vibrations and did the last bit with a handsaw. After that, I

did the cut on the other side with the handsaw, taking at least one

full break and a few small ones to stop and look around, just making a

pleasant time of it.

II.

Ah, the pump drills. I have three in the works: one to take sleeves

that have drill bits, and two to use to start fires (one of which I am

planning to give away as a Christmas gift).

My progress had been halted several weeks ago as I needed to get more

supplies. Now it is time for me to explain my procedure for allowing

myself to buy fun things, which includes supplies for the shop.

I have a point system to try to make myself things do things I don't

really want to, but I should. A regular exercise is a point. Cardio

is two points (I hate doing cardio). Chores are broken down into

bits that are worth a point -- the details of which I assume would be

tedious.

A point is only worth a dollar, and I only get to spend my dollars

once I hit 100.

All of this goes against the whole point of consumerism, where I am

supposed to "treat myself" and get in on all of that immediate

gratification and all, but the limitations I put on myself force me

to be creative in ways that I deeply enjoy. It's all just another

layer of play to me.

Last weekend I hit 100 and so I am finally able to get some supplies.

Here's what I got at the Walmart today:

1.) making tape

2.) painters tape

These items will allow me experiment more with the paper roll

sculpture techniques.

3.) epoxy

4.) chording from the camping section

These are items I need to make pump drills. The cording for all of

them, and epoxy is to hold a drill bit into the sleeve for, you know,

actual drilling.

5) Angry Orchard brand Apple Cider

6.) Corona Extra beer

Like I said, it's *fun* money.

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I love to hear from people. My email is the handle minus "net" (so, a

work by Voltaire that starts with "c"), at sdf.org.

While we're adding boiler plate: this work is hereby in the public

domain. Do what you want with it.