My dad and I were discussing making a very simple toy that wouldn’t require plans. Somehow, the discussion moved from the kitchen table to the wood shop and we were both working away!

I haven’t been in the shop in years. I haven’t worked with my dad in the shop in a decade. We used to work in his shop a lot, starting from when I was about six. It was a wondrous place full of dangerous stuff that was off-limits for years. But even when I was too little to work, my dad would suit me up in protective equipment and let me watch. It was so incredibly fun. I will have to find the picture of me in a girly-girl dress and safety glasses and ear protection.

I made lots of projects in high school and on through college. I spent many hours playing with different blades on the bandsaw and figuring out how to thread a jigsaw blade through a drilled hole.  But lately, I have been too busy and it’s a shame. We worked together as seamlessly as always, even using our nicknames from long ago. He was Dr. Sawbones; I was Nurse Sawdust. It was so cool how we just started working and the tasks divvied themselves as we worked. We both stayed busy and tried new things. Smelling the faint burning wood smell again was so relaxing!

I also learned to use a router table today, and made friends both chamfer and forstner. The forstner drilled through wood like it was butter and felt very smooth.

We finished the bandsaw, drill press, and router work; all is sanded and sanding sealer applied. Now, for paint and the toy will be finished! All from scrap wood in my dad’s shop. I saved about $40 and I spent a priceless afternoon with my dad. You can’t beat it with a stick.

I was tagged by Mymsie, so here it is! All Seven and we’ll watch them fall….
>>Share seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.

1. I have a weird food disorder- I eat in my sleep. I don’t remember doing it until I see the remnants of my feasts the next day. I saw a 20/20 special on Sleep Eating and was horrified by the hidden camera shots of people eating- they were stuffing their faces. The interesting thing is that people never make healthful choices: 100% of people choose high fat and/or high calorie foods. “Choose” might be a misnomer. I have eaten some seriously random things: the worst was when I took out a stick of butter, dumped dry chocolate cake mix on it, and ate it with a fork. The next day, the butter was still stabbed with a fork and there was cake mix everywhere.
2. I love Barbara Mandrell.
3. When I was in first grade, I would walk to school. On the way home, I picked up litter I found on the sidewalk (I was already environmentally conscious!) and my mom would be horrified by the junk in my hands. First graders have no concept of germs!
4. One of my favorite things to do is to be unexpected. I like to defy people’s expectations of who I am. For instance, I brew beer and I like to play nerdy D&D-style games. I think my paternal grandma started this. In her eulogy, they mentioned that she was so proper as to wear a hat and gloves to the grocery, but she was also an avid NFL fan.
5. I’m in a Backstreet Boys video for about half a second…and yes, there is a story behind it.

6. I am simply unable to eat baby food. From formula to milk to pureed peaches, I think it’s all disgusting and I can’t even try any of it.
7. If I could rewind time, I wouldn’t. I used to think I would really like to take back some regrettable actions (see number 5 above), but I now I really feel like they helped make me better because I learned from them.

>>Tag seven random people and include links to their blogs. Let each person know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. Amy was already tagged- no fair!
2. Hey, Oz? Up for a meme?
3. GBHII probably won’t do it.
4. CGB has become too tech-focused for such tomfoolery.
5. ChubbyChick might do it, if she’s not already tagged.
6. Sherri might be busy tending sheep.
7. I don’t have any other friends. I think this is a sign. Waahhhh 🙁

I have nothing worthwile to post, so I shan’t bore you today.  Good day.

Thanks to Oz:

The really funny part is that I originally scored as “Slightly Dorky Nerd Queen” because I accidentally said I owned a Jar Jar Binks shirt!

Again, from Chubby Chick. I think that these free-form ones are definitely harder to complete:

Four Things I’ve Never Done:
1. Been to Asia
2. Gone rock climbing (though I don’t think I ever want to do it, either)
3. Thrown a drink in someone’s face (but it sounds like a great little bit of melodrama!)
4. Stopped everything and worked on my drawing/painting skills

Four Things I’ve learned in the last year:
1. Nothing packs on the pounds faster than a queasy stomach- I ate constantly!!
2. My capacity to love is much greater than I ever thought.
3. Having a kid is both easier and harder than expected.
4. My mom is a saint for raising three kids.

Four Jobs I’d Love But Will Probably Never Have:
1. Head of the EPA- I once asked my dad what his dream job for me would be.  He picked this one.  I’ve always been flattered and wished I could do it.
2. Full-time artist- yeah, that will never happen.  My paternal grandmother had lots more talent than I, and even she had to give up art school (though she gave it up because of the Depression and I was never accepted to any art school).
3. Aquarium shop owner (though considering the state of my aquaria right now, I’d fire myself!)
4. Academy award-winning actor- for the cash!  Would hate the ‘razzi, though.

Four Jobs I’ve Actually Had:
1. Beverage flavor chemist- SO much fun! I mostly worked from finished recipes, but sometimes I could play around and make something new. 2. Nanny- I adored the kids.  The oldest one and I became pretty good friends.  She was ten and I was 16.  I told her she was one of my best friends and she said, “you’re weird.”  I still laugh about that.
3. Dog sitter (just once, and they didn’t pay very well!)
4. Corn milling chemist- not only was it educational, it was a look into the food industry.  Made me not want to eat products made with corn syrup.  Ick.

If you’d like to participate, feel free. But if you do, please let me know so I can check out your answers! 🙂