Good morning All. Coffees on.

[Mmindy]

3 hours ago, Marcie Jensen said:

I don't know about you, but when I use them, I can almost feel my father and grandfather standing there beside me as I build with th4m.

Good morning everyone,

 

The shop is warming up, it's metal work and steel pipe day.

I agree Marcie. I look at the power tools passed to me with fond memories of the person who taught me how to use them.

 

Coffee is HOT, strong, and black.

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

[Ivy]

5 hours ago, Marcie Jensen said:

I get what you mean about generational tools… There's something special about them.

I agree.  I lost my shop when I split with my ex.  Here is kinda makeshift.  But I did keep my tools. Some are from my grandfather, and some from my father's stuff.

I also have some antique tools that I acquired over the years, oddly enough at work.  I worked on trash trucks for years.  It's sad to say, but often when an older person would pass, a lot of their stuff would end up in the trash - including tools.  We used to joke that it was a "throw your tools away day."  

Kinda makes me think how a lot of stuff we keep for reasons, doesn't mean much to other people.  I personally value things that have been passed down in the family over the years.

[Marcie Jensen]

15 minutes ago, Ivy said:

Kinda makes me think how a lot of stuff we keep for reasons, doesn't mean much to other people.  I personally value things that have been passed down in the family over the years.

amen. Those are true and profound words.

[awkward-yet-sweet]

27 minutes ago, Ivy said:

 I worked on trash trucks for years.  It's sad to say, but often when an older person would pass, a lot of their stuff would end up in the trash - including tools.  We used to joke that it was a "throw your tools away day."  

I noticed this as well.  My GF and I used to go on a "garbage cruise" when we lived in the city.  She would hit neighborhood waste cans, but also industrial and construction dumpsters and even Craigslist giveaways.  Lots of tools and materials get tossed out, and she would regularly fill her pickup with materials for later use and items for resale.

 

GF grew up very poor, even scavenging food from dumpsters.  The first time I went with her, it was a real learning experience.  

[awkward-yet-sweet]

Ugh, here comes the freezing rain and ice ❄️. My husband dismissed his employees and came home early today.  He's heading back out to help the sheriff's office.  Apparently there are a lot of accidents already.  

 

Our front porch is so slick I can't even walk out there, and its hanging from all the tree branches.  I suspect lots of people will have no electricity tonight.  My friend even came from the city to stay with us.  During the last ice storm, her place had no electricity for almost 2 days.  

[Willow]

Hi, Spent the day driving too and from Charleston.  My wife has eye problems since she was 12 and has to see specialist for help.  
 

Let me just say, I envy those of you who were taught by your father about the tools and how to use them.  My father built his shop in the 50s as well.  But anything I learned to do, I learned by observation.  Observing him, observing workers he hired, observing a neighbor working on his car….

 

I suppose the fact that my father was 55 years older than me, he just wasn’t into teaching anything anymore.  I have many concerns about my family life growing up.  Things that didn’t happen in my family that are normal.  Things I did for or with my family (my wife and children) Don’t misunderstand, I was not mistreated physically in any manner.  But emotionally.  For example, I can not remember ever happening in my life growing up was being hugged or told simply I love you.  At least not after my grandfather died.  And similarly I don’t recall my sister being told that either.  I guess you could say that children are to be seen but not heard was very much in play.

No wonder it took me all these years to figure who I really was.

Willow 

[Ivy]

2 hours ago, Willow said:

 I have many concerns about my family life growing up.  Things that didn’t happen in my family that are normal.  Things I did for or with my family (my wife and children) Don’t misunderstand, I was not mistreated physically in any manner.  But emotionally.  For example, I can not remember ever happening in my life growing up was being hugged or told simply I love you.

It was like this for me as well.   I've often wondered how I don't have any memories of any physical hugs, sitting in laps etc.  My father was very hands off - he pretty much left things to my mother.  

My ex education was nonexistent.  I learned that stuff from my peers.  Looking back at times I feel it was a form of neglect.  

 

I used to think it was just me, but I'm pretty sure it was really like that.

 

As an adult, I craved physical contact, which made my marriage breaking up especially hard - even now.

[Mmindy]

2 hours ago, Willow said:

I can not remember ever happening in my life growing up was being hugged or told simply I love you.

Willow, my wife came from a family that did not hug or communicate emotional support for achievement. My family on the other hand never passed up an opportunity to hug one another. My mother would sing a song to each person who came into her kitchen. For us kids it was: “I love you, a bushel and a peck and an hug around the neck.” When my wife (then girlfriend) started attending family functions, she couldn’t believe how much we hugged each other. However she quickly learned to love it, and we still hug several times a day. 
 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

[Willow]

@Marcie Jensen one of my most prized possessions is a mantle clock.  I knew the clock as belonging to my grandfather as a child.  The clock was passed on to me. It has a mercury weighted pendulum, chimes the hour, the each quarter hour.  I learned that it was a wedding present to my grandparents and dates to around 1900.  Unfortunately, my mother decided it needed some attention and took it to a clock maker.  I don’t know what he did but it hasn’t worked since.  I’d like like to see and hear it work again but I really don’t know who I can trust to be able to fix it, and I’d rather have it whole but not working than a pile of parts.

 

I have two even older pocket watches and a Scottish spinning wheel from around 1800 but the clock is number one in my heart probably because of the intense love between my grandfather and myself when I was little.  (Tearing up) and he died in 1957.

 

Willow

[KymmieL]

That got me thinking. I don't believe I had my parents tell me I Love you. When my mom started about 3 years ago. It seemed strange but nice. It seems that the love was there, just not open.  My grandfather was the smartest man I have ever known. Showed me a lot. Being I was the only grandson. (I was back then, I guess.)

 

I guess that my life has been screwed up for a while now. I just want to know where the rewind button is?? Anyone?  

 

Hugs to my friends,

 

Kymmie

[awkward-yet-sweet]

8 hours ago, Ivy said:

It was like this for me as well.   I've often wondered how I don't have any memories of any physical hugs, sitting in laps etc.  My father was very hands off - he pretty much left things to my mother.  

My ex education was nonexistent.  I learned that stuff from my peers.  Looking back at times I feel it was a form of neglect.  

 

I used to think it was just me, but I'm pretty sure it was really like that.

 

As an adult, I craved physical contact, which made my marriage breaking up especially hard - even now.

I identify with a lot of what you say.  My parents just weren't affectionate with me.  They were affectionate with my older brothers, and to some extent with my sister because she is the youngest, but I was mostly left out.  My sister and I are very close, and we were each other's sources of physical contact and warmth.  

 

I didn't really have an idea of what normal parental affection looks like until joining my forever family and watching my husband and my female partners with their kids.  

 

As an adult (sort of....as I dislike adulting), I'm probably needy and codependent.  When nervous, I immediately seek a partner to cling to and a lap to curl up on.  I can't imagine the pain of a breakup...that kind of loss would not be something I could survive.  

[Marcie Jensen]

@Willow even if it doesn't work, how cool to have an antique clock that belonged to your grandfather!!!!!! And, the memories it must evoke. How awesome!

[Mmindy]

Good morning everyone,

 

It's 11°F clear, and the sun is just rising. The coffee is brewing, and I've started a fire in the shop wood stove. It's going to take a lot longer to be comfortable out there. My business partner is up from The Villages in Florida, he's under dressed for this weather. Fortunately for him he'll be spending the day with our CPA doing the business taxes. Yesterday he sat and watched me weld pipe hangers together, then assemble pipe sections for one of our training props. He was supersized when I passed him a hand held welding shield. He had never watched the welding process, and said it was like using a glue gun with sparks and molten metal. We discussed the future direction, and activity of the company as we're both getting older.

 

Hugs for you all,

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

[Mmindy]

Coffee has brewed. Come get a cup. 

[Marcie Jensen]

@Mmindy I love the cartoon! It's the perfect meme foe a cold winter day.

[Mmindy]

While drinking my first cup of coffee, and watching the bird feeders. There were two woodpeckers on the suet block, the smaller one is very regular here. It’s a female Red-Bellied Woodpecker, the larger one is a rare visitor called a Common Flicker also female. I find that funny because she’s not been that common at my feeders. 
 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

[Willow]

Good morning 

 

@Marcie Jensen I agree, that’s a perfect cartoon for today.

 

@Mmindy when we lived in Virginia our backyard was open to a wooded area and eventually some ponds from our local water authority.  It was great because we would see lots of wildlife.  Deer of course, fox lots of things but most of all, the birds.  We had all the common birds but eventually started attracting Flickers and woodpeckers,  all sizes from the tiniest to the really large red headed piliated ones.  Our local wild bird center operator said he’d never seen one in the area so I brought him a photograph for verification.  But the best of all was a brood of wild turkeys we watched move into our yard walk around and leave.  That was the best for me.

 

One year ago today I posted on Facebook a portion of one of my favorite hymns, Here I am Lord, it is me…. Essentially it is about being called and following that calling. I started by helping with the teen LGBTQ group In Wilmington NC. Once a month I drive 2hrs there and 2 hrs home to be there for them.  While not the first service project I have done, it was certainly the biggest to date.  And as you may have read, one year later I have now taken another step and become an Ordained Minister.  No, it is not the same as attending school and studying for years and I’m uncertain how I will proceed with this but I did feel it was the next step in my calling to serve.

 

please follow your heart where ever it leads you.  Whether it’s just being with family and friends, or becoming a guardian of a troubled teen or whatever it might be.  We all need someone to care for and to care for us.

 

IHS

 

Hugs

 

Willow

[heatherd]

An uncle of mine and I had lunch together today.Said he found something,a picture of me as Heather and was 6 months into my transition.Was me behind a deer I shot during deer hunting as Heather for the first time.Good thing he is in my life still and sees I live a much happier life.Did support me during my transition too

[Mmindy]

Good morning Coffee drinkers, and Punxsutawney Phil.

 

 I don’t care if you see your shadow or not. 
My nightstand is getting crowded.

 

[KymmieL]

Don't know what is going with me today.  Went to bed at about 1:30 then couldn't sleep past 7:30. Even though I am tired.  Thankfully its my weekend.

 

Hugs,

 

Kymmie

[Willow]

Happy Thursday. 
 

Well, maybe not as happy as some would like.  Bad ice storms.  Many people stuck, stranded or hurt.  And it isn’t done yet.

@kymmiel sorry you didn’t sleep.  Lots of that going around.  Seems l8ke the only one sleeping in my home is Sweetie our dog.

 

My wife read that eggs are as much as seventy cents each in some places.  Pretty soon steak will be cheaper than eggs.  And that makes lots of things more and more expensive.  I get that it’s the avian flu causing growers to kill off their flocks.  Is this the way we are all going to loose?  With no affordable food?  Whose idea was this anyway?  Republicans insist that we can’t continue to support deficit spending.  The Democrats (or at least Biden) claims he won’t cut his spending.  We are in the worst financial mess since WWII.  And once again, both sides are threatening to cut off Social Security.  And that’s not even the government’s money.  We paid our social security tax, into a fund.  That was supposed to be there growing in size to return to us when we were too old to work.  But who is the first group they go after? The old, the infirm, the people they promised would have a retirement.  Do they threaten themselves? No not at all.  Salary and healthcare for life at equal to what they got while in congress.  Is there a way to fix this?  I suspect that there is but they are unwilling to take on the risk of being re-elected if the go against the people with all the money.

 

besides, they will for certain leave a loophole in what ever law they enact that will allow the mega rich a way to avoid paying, they always do.

 

I hate to say this but one of my jobs in the 80s was to find a way to avoid providing certain benefits for “part-time laborers” while maintaining those same benefits to the highly compensated group.  Kennedy who wrote the bill was touted as the great savior of the workers.  It took about 6 months to find the loophole and avoid everything Kennedy said he’d done.  That was the big joke of TEFRA86.

 

In two years Biden has managed to create a bigger deficit than any piece time President or even war time President since Roosevelt.  And, he’s doing little or nothing to protect our rights.

 

Just saying, we need a different plan or we are going to be in a whole lot of trouble.

 

Willow

 

[KymmieL]

TGIF for most. but me. Its my Sunday. Got the heater going to warm up the garage again. Did some work on the wagon yesterday. Then found I needed other stuff so I ordered it. So that is on hold once again. Today I'm going to continue working on the new stereo for the bike. The original is having issues. So I am going to put a complete system in. New Marine head unit, amp(s) and new speakers. Have to wire up the adapter for retaining the handlebar controls. It will be a pain but I like doing this stuff.

 

Coffee is drank, big girl panties on. I am ready for the day. I think. LOL

 

Hugs to all.

 

Kymmie

[Mmindy]

Good morning everyone,

 

Yesterday, I managed to stay in my Pjs all day, because it was freezing cold. Today it’s going to warm way up into the fourties’.

 

 I have things I need to do outside in the yard to prepare for Spring. So the coffee is HOT, strong, and black. 
 

Happy Saturday,

 

Mindy🐛🏳️‍⚧️🦋

[Willow]

[Davie]

Today's bad mood is caused by a frozen pipe. Hope it's not a bad one that will defrost soon. I'm doing all the recommended things. Heating under the sink, leaving it on, etc. Called the plumber.  Waiting is not my strong suit. Oh, well. Never had a problem until now. Last night was wicked cold.

Good luck with that, all. Stay warm.

Ooh! Plumber is here! That's good.