you know times are tough when,

I saw it on a CNBC video we all know how reliable those are.:-/


Around here front range of Colorado almost no new construction and For Lease signs every where.
But I drove through Vail the other day and saw 5 large cranes.. Looks like they are projects that started before the economy dived.

 

Best idea to live life simple and safe then feel the need to compete with others material items.

 

Tis' true. My old boss closed up shop, sold everything, bought six dumptrucks and is now working on the new port facility in Jacksonville, FL. Bastard got a $12M contract to haul down there.

 

Healthcare is a good industry to be in right now. I don't think it's going to be hurting as bad as most others. My hubby is in healthcare with a good opportunity for a much better job in the near future. We're very lucky, but I don't take that for granted, cause there's such an intricate balance between everything... pull one string at one end and the whole thing collapses. At least that's how it seems.

 

Its alot less things to worry about too One day a ADT guy came to the door to try to sell us an alarm system. Our dog barked, I told him we didn't need it because of our dog. He said we need it for when we weren't home. I told him I didn't live in the material realm. That freaked the fucker out and he left. LOL!

Besides I don't really need alot. Give me a comfy spot, some good vibes and a book, movie, or silence and I am fit as a fiddle. I can find my comfy spot in the woods just as easy as on the couch!

 

The economy seems relatively unaffected in the DC area compared to other stories I'm hearing.
Business was down about $17k last month, but it couldve been a lot worse.

 

I like how you think.

 

You are a mama too so I think you understand! LOL!

 

No doubt. I hate Waldorf! I used to work there for a bit of time and I cannot speak good things about it.

Whenever I come to MD, I avoid Wal-dork like the plague.

 

I'm not in the commercial construction industry....so I am not effected. I just find it very interesting that money still goes to freaking baseball stadiums, when schools had to give it back. Priorities?

 

Yeah, plus I'm a homeschooling mama... so that's 24/7. The bathtub is my getaway. hehe. But even without kids I like a lot of silence and nature. That's why I can't wait till we get our land, I'll be right at home.

 

homeschooling? Wow, good for you. I would have done that if I didn't find an arts based school for my little chica.

How many kiddies you got?

 

one 8 yr old girl, how bout you?

 

6 year old that is mine and 12 year old that is my stepdaughter

 

hey I got a stepdaughter too. but she's 20 and lives on her own now.

 

How old was she when you guys got together?

Cause those blended families create some tough times too

 

We got together 10 yrs ago so she was 10 at the time. She lived with us most of the time until she got out on her own, and for a short while with her mom. So she's half-sister to my 8 yr old. I'm lucky in that she & I got along pretty good and she gets along really well with her sister. But yeah, alot of blended families have a hard time of it. Is that the case with yours?

 

You see a Rolls Royce Phantom Coupe in front of you at the McDonalds drive thru and it's Paris Hilton ordering from the value menu?

 

OK, here you go.

This is the easel I built two weeks ago. It reclines into a drawing table. I stole the design from the Dick Blick catalog.


It's all red oak with brass fasteners and I finished it in cherry with a satin finish.


This is the box I started as a hope chest but my "experimenting" with different glue joints reduced it in size a bit LOL. Exposed dovetails and then mitered corners didn't work for me so it got small and smaller. Would make a nice sea chest.


It's solid red oak and will be finished in English Chestnut high gloss when it's done, if it ever dries. Too fookin' cold. Will get a plywood bottom and a burgundy felt lining.

 

This is a Celtic Cat carving (say it three times fast) that I've started but I need to replace my air carver with an electric dremel. It uses too much air and I can't afford to burn out another compressor this early in the year.

And this is one of two bedside tables I'm working on. The open bay at the top will have a smooth panel drawer, about 10x14 inches. And the top will be a simple flat, relieved edge. No fasteners, all mortise and tenon and dovetails glued. I'm not confident enough to build furniture without at least a little glue. Yet.


And here is my messy, messy workbench. Complete with human skulls and dirty windows. Hey it's my mancave, it's got cigarette butts and 6' of sawdust on the floor and fridge full of beer. And that's how it will stay.



And that is what I've been doing since Dec 20th.