Practical advice in terms of usable information usually comes from a pro in the field.
From a blogger? Not so much.
You need a trusted source, not some yahoo on a keyboard.
But here we are.
What you’ll never hear on boomerpdx: Take a cold shower in the morning to jump start your day.
You’ve heard this? I call bullshit unless it’s a cold shower after half an hour in a hot sauna.
Even better if it’s hot enough to make you think your hair is on fire and your face is melting.
You’re gonna need a nice cold shower unless you want to sweat it out and keep it pouring out for the next hour.
Besides, after a sauna session you might need a ‘bower’ too.
What’s a bower? A beer in the shower with you. Ummm mmm.
Now that’s a cool down worth cooking for.
Remember, keep it practical. Two bowers.
But why take that sauna?
Well, if you’re experienced like me, there’s nothing quite like a good lift day pumping it up, getting into a good lather, then cold water drinks and a sauna.
Oh, let’s go.
Call The Professionals When Needed
Many of us enjoy building small things from birdhouses to slack lines.
Birds don’t complain if you nail or screw a wooden box together and use a hole saw in front for the opening.
Six pieces of scrap wood, four sides, a top and bottom, should do it, unless you’re building a Street of Dreams birdhouse.
But why would you do that?
Screw them all together, hang it up, and the birds will take if from there.
A slack line is another level of ‘What’s next?’
I’ve never built a slack line, but I’ve seen YouTube instructions.
Today is slack line day, but for who?
The link shows a process to build one out of existing materials like tow lines rated at 2000 lbs, and the sort of strap truckers use to secure their load on a flat bed trailer.
If you don’t weigh over 2000 lbs this is looking good.
If you have kids in your life, then you have the answer for ‘who is it for?’
It’s for kids, moms and dads, grandparents, and maybe a circus dog.
Sounds like fun so far?
I’ve never walked a slack line, but I’ve done a zip line obstacle course in Thetford, England, which was educational.
The line was not built for a big-ass like me, so the landings were rough.
I carried more speed down the lines, and there were a lot of them up in the trees, and crashed hard each time.
My kids thought it was the funniest thing.
The other adults in the group were not very encouraging with, “David, come down, you don’t have to do it.”
Or did I?
Someone had to show the kids how to have fun. It was painful fun.
When To Call The Real Professionals
If you get into a remodel, thinking about remodeling, plan for problems if you’ve never done one.
Like most over-confident guys who think nothing is beyond them, you can learn a lot by listening to professional builders.
My wife is a big planner, list maker, and coordinator.
Instead of being a butt-hurt hubby who thinks the wife is undermining them, I let her co0k.
I listened to the contractor’s tools whine and grind.
Yesterday the electrician was here and I heard five different tools going at it.
The day before the plumber was here with a few more interesting tool sounds.
Drills, grinders, saws, and more.
Me: What’s the worst situation you’ve seen in a house?
Contractor: It’s usually some Dad or Granddad rigging a temporary fix that ends up permanent.
Me: Hmm, permanent?
Contractor: Like the pipes under your kitchen sink.
Me:
Contractor: It’s waiting to fail and flood.
Me:
Contractor: Whoever did that work didn’t consider the angle of flow. You can’t have adequate draining on level pipes.
Me: Whoever that moron was.
Contractor: It’s a common mistake.
Me: Like hooking a 110 outlet to a 220 wire?
Contractor: That’s a problem.
Me: Like leaving the water on and flooding the ceiling underneath the second floor?
Contractor: Those are both good examples.
Me: I’m glad you’re here.
Contractor: Knowledge, experience, and the right tools for the right job make the work last.
Did not know about Solo cup measuring lines until today..so, 67 years old. Thank you for the info.
Practical advice is the key. We did some measuring last night beside a fire that needed a fire monitor.
Summer night special with more to come.