Grandpa Patch's Porch

[GrandpaPatch]

“Hello and welcome to Grandpa Patch’s Porch. My intent with this thread is to let everyone know about me, with stories from my early years, a bit about some of my time in the Marine Corps, my life as a single young man (short story), my married life and how little I still know about women, why children and grandchildren think we are stupid, but miraculously know things ahead of time. Yes, parents and grandparents CAN TELL THE FUTURE.

I would also like to learn about you. Multitool.org is a community and like any community you want to meet the neighbors. I would like to share things about me and my life with you and hope that you will be interested enough to not only learn about me, but to reply and let me (and the multitool.org community) meet and learn about you.

I understand that the NOTICE TO MEMBERS USING THE BREAK ROOM puts some limitations (and rightfully so based on the explanation given) on how far we can go, or may have to stop certain conversations. Quoted: “From here on in, I am personally banning threads of a political, cultural or religious nature from Multitool.org.  "Hate Speech" and/or anything determined to be hateful or hurtful will not be tolerated.”

Personally, I have learned from my years of drinking (another story for another time) that mixing ‘alcohol’ and discussions of race, religion, politics, sexual orientation or nationality usually ends up in the streets. I also firmly believe that as adults that we can share and discuss, all while keeping an open mind to the opinions of others and that if all else fails we can be mature enough to agree to disagree and move on. By ‘moving on’ I mean that the specific discussion that was disagreeable can be moved away from peaceably and that ‘agree to disagree’ is maintained and does not reflect poorly on the members themselves, multitool.org or humanity’s ability to overcome and adapt.

‘Alcohol’ not only applies literally, but also figuratively when dealing with the internet. On the internet is doesn’t take alcohol. It is the ‘no one can touch me and therefore I can act like an …. or not worry about the ramifications of my hateful speech attitude that leads to the ‘Keyboard Commando’ fights. Personally I would like to post my physical address and say ‘Hey, come over here and let us resolve this!’, but in reality that would be just as stupid and wasteful as the original stupid argument over a silly subject that probably wasn’t worth arguing over in the first place.

So now that the formalities are out of the way. I would like to open this thread up with: I am really glad I found multitool.org. I am learning a lot, even about the SAK/MTs that I already own. I am learning about everyone’s passion for collecting, using and modifying the various tools. I am learning the ‘in and outs’ of advantages and disadvantages of the various tools as well. This last sentence has already helped me to explain to my wife that it isn’t just me. There are other people in the world with the same complaints or same insistences that a certain tool be used in a certain situation. I have become interested in sharing my tools, knives, pouches, watches and information with others, hoping that a single piece of information that I post will help someone else as much as a single piece of information in a post has already helped me. I have wandered around in the desert, just to take pictures. Something my wife does not understand as well (and also another story), yet again here at multitool.org is a board for ‘The Shutter Shop’. Everyday, I find a piece of information that has taught me something. Even in some of the old threads that I really want to respond to. I don’t think necroing a thread is a bad thing. There will always be new members on the forum and some of those older threads might not only have helped me, but help them as well. I realize that this forum has been around for a long time, as well as the fact that some of the members have been here since the beginning. So I understand that bringing an old topic back to life seems boring, redundant, silly, whatever…, but by bringing that topic back around for a fresh look someone might add something new and improved or maybe learn something about a tool that they never knew.

Yes, I would like to share my life’s story, so to speak, with the members of multitool.org, but I would also very much like to meet my ‘neighbors’. So pull up a stump, roll a fresh log onto the fire and let’s sit here on Grandpa Patch’s Porch and talk for awhile.

[Nix]

Hey, Patch, nice porch. 

I like the rocking chairs you've got here.

[GrandpaPatch]

edited from my extended hello in the New Members board Arizona, USA

I grew up as an Army Brat. My father is now a retired Colonel (US Army). We moved from east coast to west coast back and forth for many years. In 1975, he was stationed in Berlin, Germany for 3 years. Which meant the family went with him. We stayed in Berlin from late 1975 to late 1978. The Berlin Wall was a real thing. I have been through Check Point Charlie a few times when we visited East Berlin. While in East Berlin, I remember get to go up into "Pope's Revenge" and tall structure with a ball shaped top (The of the space needle or other similar structures} The whole thing was made of mirrored glass. Due to its shape the sun caused a reflection of a cross. Being that the communist controlled East Berlin was repressed, that shiny cross got the name "Pope's Revenge". I honestly do not remember the actual name of the structure. I have ridden the train that traveled through East Germany from Berlin to West Germany. It is now a very good memory for me, as the Berlin Wall no longer exists and some people are young enough to have not even know of the Berlin Wall, the existence of East Germany or the many issues that revolved around living in Berlin. The only thing they know are what they have been taught in the history books and pictures. My brother and I bought Smurfs at just about any little store we went to. Hind sight being 20/20, I wish I had keep the 30 or so Smurfs I had used outside like someone dragging a G.I. Joe around behind their bicycle.

There are many more interesting (well I think so) things and funny things from my early years that I will add in further posts.

[Aloha]

Everyone's got a story or 3 to share and I for one like a good story.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

So do I!

As a military brat myself, I especially enjoy hearing the experiences of others. 

Up here they call us Dandelions- I don't know if they use that term anywhere else.



They also call us brats, which someone decided stood for Born, Raised And Transferred Somewhere. 
 
Def

[GrandpaPatch]

 
I like that image and agree with statement. I may have to steal that image.

[GrandpaPatch]

I had not planned on posting here again today, but I've just got to share this little bit as a Public Service Announcement for EDC Vehicle (PSA/EDC-Vehicle). I taught both of my kids (Son is a 1 1/2 yrs older than my daughter) how to drive. I even went so far (oh, the torture I put them through) as teaching them to drive a stick' (manual transmission), change their tires, oil, wipers, brakes and even the shocks. You know all the basic stuff that we do ourselves for our vehicles. AND THEN, I went so far as teaching them (and help put together) a basic road side, emergency kit. You know the basics of reflective markers, flares, rain coat/poncho, flashlight, jumper cables, tow rope, extra fuses, etc... So I was a real prick back then, as I have been told by both of them, but they have also thanked me for teaching them those things.

Each of them have had to use as least one of these lessons during their adult life. My son-in-law doesn't do a thing to his vehicles except take it to a shop for whatever the issue might be. He was completely surprised when my daughter used her phones flash as a flashlight, popped the hood, pulled the burnt headlamp bulb and walked into the Autozone. She then returned, replace the bulb, dropped the hood and they went on their merry way with both headlamps working.

Today I had my son take me down the road a bit to harvest some wood for The SAK Whittiing Club. Wanting to start my journey with the whittling, I decided that I would use my SwissChamp, since my other SAK has not arrived yet. I have already ordered a  SAK Hiker (which should be here today) to be used just for the whittling and harvesting.



And yes my lighter is pink, just like the beads on my SwissChamp, but that also is another story. Anyways, I am sawing anyway at this tree....



...and I suddenly have an epitome..."This isn't a survival situation you stupid SMURFBUTT, why didn't you bring a saw? Just the whittling needs to be done with the SAK". So I look at my son and ask "Can you just hook up to this thing and pull it till it breaks off?" and say "I'll just use the saw on the rest of it when we get home.". "Sure" he says and moves towards his truck. He opens up the back driver side and looks under the seat where he stores all of his roadside gear. Nothing but a pair of jumper cables. "Oh yeah, I took everything out of the trucks the last time I had it detailed. I think everything is still in my closet.". So, we just came back home and I will go fight the damn tree with a saw tomorrow.

PSA/EDC-VEHICLE: Check your vehicles gear at least once a month, make sure that your gear is back in your vehicle if you have removed it lately and rotate in and out those things that do deteriorate or need to be washed. And in my case, don't be an idiot and try to use your EDC gear, when there is a perfectly functional, properly designed tool that is readily available to you.



 

[SteveC]

Good thread and great tip GP !   

[Nix]

Headed up a snowy road and into the mountains tomorrow.

I've got some basics, but I don't have a good hi-lift jack. I might need to correct that on the way out of town........

[Grant Lamontagne]

Given the number of jokes about my pink kayak, I am in support of a pink lighter! 

Excellent point on the EDC equipment in the car.  Mine rotates so much that I never seem to have what I need when I need it, although luckily I often have something else that I can make work.  For example, last winter I came upon a neighbor of mine with car trouble on a busy corner during rush hour.  I pulled over to see if he needed a boost, which didn't end up working.  I had to pull up behind him and neither of our jumper cables were long enough to reach all the way around his car to the battery, but clipping them both together worked well enough.  Or, it would have, if his battery had been healthy enough to take a charge.

Since that didn't work I drove home and parked my Jeep, then hauled the battery out of it and walked it several blocks to where his truck was and put that in his car, which only succeeded in setting off his alarm.   

Our next step was to walk home with the battery, re-install it in the Jeep and tie off his front bumper to my rear bumper with some 12,000lb securing straps I use in my day job in shipping and I hauled him to his garage a couple of miles away.

Sometimes the "right" tool isn't good enough and you need several backup "right" tools!

Def

[pfrsantos]

Glad you decided to put up your porch close to the naughty step. Gives me the chance to take part in some of the conversations.

 

As for the pink stuff, I wouldn't mind having a pink Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter. Great little knife. The pink would make it look even more like a toy, turning it completely sheeple-proof.



https://www.kabar.com/products/product.jsp?item=4062PK

[MadPlumbarian]

That’s why I love this forum, it says multitools, but this place is more about family then mt, sak, watches, or edc! I honestly don’t know where I’d be without it! I don’t have a pouch (we were going to build one) yet we have a nice little setup in the backyard so grab a chair if you ever need to talk or just vent just pm me, I’m home most of the time, if not, I’d get back to you ASAP..
JR

[GrandpaPatch]

So, what is up with the “pink stuff”?

The pink ribbon is the most prominent symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness, and in many countries the month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I don’t walk around with a pink ribbon pinned to my hat or shirt, but I do carry/use small things that include pink, such a the lanyard I just added to my SwissChamp. If we get a new x5 pack of bic lighters and there is a pink one in the pack I make sure that it becomes my lighter. I am already planning on getting a vehicle cigarette lighter plug to USB adapter, USB cable and wall socket to USB adapter to put into my EDC pouch. One of my 3x5 notepads that I use here in the house is a pink background with a dog picture.

So, what is up with the ‘pink stuff’? My wife is a breast cancer survivor. She is one of the toughest people I know (and that is saying something). We found out that her boobs were trying to kill her, so she went into proactive mode and conducted a surgical (literally) strike. She killed them, before they could kill her. The doctors wanted to discuss reconstructive surgery and cup size preferences. We talked about it, having listened to the doctors recommendations and warnings. The warnings were what we focused on and not her ‘new cup size’ possibilities.
It was a major decision for her to make. She was concerned about the ‘cosmetic issue’ of being completely flat chested and how she would be ‘looked at’ by society. I tried to be a compassionate as possible, but I was pretty firm on the statement ‘I don’t care what the rest of the world thinks. Those things are trying to kill you and I completely agree with ‘killing them off’ first. I don’t care about what other people will think if you don’t have the reconstructive surgery. I married YOU, not your chest!”

She finally made here decision and had them removed without any follow up cosmetic surgery. Yes, she went through a rough time battling her own demons of her decision. Yes, she has purchased various apparel items to help ‘hide’ the surgery, but in the long run she gave up on those items and learned to be happy with her healthier self. Now she is healthy, happy and unashamed of her appearance. She knows the our entire family stand with her and the decision she made. She knows that we all still love her and that her cup size doesn’t matter. She absolutely loves spending time with our granddaughter on ‘girls day’, when her, my daughter and granddaughter all take the day and do ‘girly things’ like getting their nails done, shopping for clothes or ‘getting fat’ on a cup of ice cream with all the ‘fatty fixings’ on it.

Maybe it is the fact that we hold our heads up high when we go out. Maybe it is the fact that we don’t care and ignore the very seldom looks that she receives. Maybe it is fear of pissing me off while I am open carrying a firearm. May it is none of or all of the above. It doesn’t matter. She is healthy and has been happy for awhile. I think she has finally come to terms with the demons of her decision.

During this whole process from diagnosis, to examinations, to surgery, to follow up examinations, to just getting herself ‘back in the game’ mentally, she has been a true champion.

I have been around wounded, triaged, recovering and still f’d in the head military personnel and I must say that my wife is tougher than all of them. She really is a champion and I do not hesitate to refer to her as ‘Wonder Woman’.

[RF52]

That's good. Glad to hear she's doing good And your porch seems like a great place

Sent fra min FRD-L09 via Tapatalk

[Aloha]

  Respect.  I've always believed women were much tougher than men.  Glad your wife is a survivor and you've fought this battle together.   

[pfrsantos]

Respect.  I've always believed women were much tougher than men.  Glad your wife is a survivor and you've fought this battle together.   

+1

 

Like you said: if someone has a problem with that, it's their problem.

Another good thing about having/using pink stuff: much less prone to be stollen (since thieves are sooo manly).

 

[GrandpaPatch]

Yesterday's post by Valkie: 'Letting others use your knife', my reply and MacGyver's reply got me to thinking about today Grandpa Patch's Porch post.

WOW, this is a tough question. Partly because I don't have that many friends. The six friends (3 couples) that I do have already have their own knives and tools. So I have never been asked by a friend to borrow a knife. An acquaintance might ask, but would not receive a knife from me, even if I was standing right there when they used it. Anyone below acquaintance level would only get a silly, quizzical look like "are you f'n kidding me?" I'm don't/won't apologize for this attitude. I have worked hard for every penny I have (which isn't much) and learned a long time ago that when you loan something out expect it to come back to you 1) broken 2) without an apology or good explanation 3) or not returned to you at all (usually due to #1 or #2 or both).

+10 

Like I've said countless times before, nothing good ever comes from lending people your stuff.
- At best nothing will happen cause the person is competent in using that item, and... (big "and" here...), the person is respectful and considerate of your property when using it and returning it.
- At worst, any of the issues mentioned in the post above can happen.

So usually if some one asks me to use my sak, ill ask them what they need done and ill do it for them

   I have to agree with MacGyver when he says "So usually if some one asks me to use my SAK, ill ask them what they need done and ill do it for them". Have I been in that situation and done it myself and completed the task at hand myself rather than hand my knife to someone else? YES. But, this is not the 'topic' for today's post. Today's post is about the Friends vs Acquaintances vs Socially vs I've Meet Before vs Stranger categories of people.

As I mentioned in my reply to Valkie's post, I only have 6 friends. Is that because I'm a loser, loner, smurfbutt, idiot with poor social skills and a bad attitude? No, but I think some people who I have run into in life may disagree. I do not collect friends as easily as clicking "add friend", "send friend request" or "Like" as is common with so many younger people of this generation. My friends are people that I actually meet (or introduced to), shook hands with and introduced myself and wife to. They are real in-the-flesh people who I have met while engaged in an event, activity or group gathering. We ('my friends' and my wife and I) struck up a conversation, may moved the conversation over to lunch at the nearest hot dog stand, restaurant or bench. After the social aspect was completed and we went our separate ways, I had to have had some type of positive feeling about the person(s) that I had just met. Then on a separate date/occasion/event I would run into the same people that I had met previously and because of the 'positive feeling' from the time that I met them, I was willing to further engage in conversation or even join up with them. Then as a group of four (that couple in question plus my wife and I) we could enjoy the day/event/gathering together and learn more about each other. If everything had went well on the first and second meeting, then I might (or they might) offer to meet somewhere for lunch or dinner at a future date. No phone numbers, physical addresses or email addresses have been shared at this point. The only thing that I know (they know) is what has been said, my impressions of their body language and tone/tempo of their voice during our time around each other. At this point I do know their vehicles license plate state, number and tag expiration.

So in my example above, the first time meeting/introduction to is a example of someone 'I have met but know nothing about' situation, which categorizes as the 'just met/introduced' category. Further along the example above is the 'run into the same people' situation and the 'I've got a positive feeling and a bit more knowledge of'. Which is now the 'met with socially' category. Further into the example is the 'we could enjoy the day/event/gathering together and learn more about each other', which now becomes the 'someone I know socially' category. You will notice that 'met with socially' and 'someone I know socially' are two different categories. At the conclusion of 'lunch/dinner at a future date' will usually determine if the person(s) in question fall back into the 'met with socially category' or advance to the next step of 'acquaintance category'. If the person(s) in question advances to the 'acquaintance category' then phone numbers or emails have probably been shared with the intent of getting together again. This is where the next step is a phone call with a 'Hey, let's get together for...X.Y.Z', which may or may not result in the passing or physical addresses. This stage can go quickly or slowly depending on the person(s) or situations that both sides are involved with and individual schedules in life. At the point where someone has invited me to their home or been invited to my house and the get together does not go so well, then they fall back into the acquaintance category and all future contacts will be if we run into each other again out in public and we might join up to enjoy the day. If the get together goes well then the relationship status changes to the 'people you know and are friendly (not friends, friendly) with category'. By now you should KNOW  enough about the person(s) to be friendly and have a good idea of what you wish to share with them about your life or ask about theirs. Everyone is different and the only way to learn more about them is to open your mouth and ask the question or open your ears and pay attention. For me it usually takes several 'people you know and are friendly with" get togethers and more information about each other to advance to the 'friend category'.

I realize that technology has advanced beyond the 'Pony Express', pencil and paper, the telegraph, the phone that was mounted to the wall, your paper pocket calendar, paper pocket address book, pagers, simple 'flip phones'. The invention of the PC, subsequent invention of the internet and social media and the advances made with smartphones have all but eliminated the need for these items. They have also led the last two generations right down the SMURFHOLE of knowledge and practical application of going outside, meeting people and knowing how to behave and what the true meaning of 'a good friend' really is.

There is an old joke: A friend is a person that you can call for bail money. A good friend is probably sitting next to you in the cell.

[pfrsantos]

(...)

There is an old joke truth: A friend is a person that you can call for bail money. A good friend is probably sitting next to you in the cell.

FTFY...

 

Yup, pretty much agree with your friend-making timeline/process.

 

[GrandpaPatch]

Growing up was not easy, because I made it hard. I couldn’t follow the rules. If I wanted to grow my hair below the top outline of my ears or down the back of my neck then I had to ‘pay for my own haircuts’ and it had to be ‘neat and clean’. For those who have grown their hair out a bit, you know what I mean. During the waiting time it takes for your hair to grow to any length beyond a ‘traditional’ over the ears and clean up the back of the neck, that is also possible to keep nice tucked into a ponytail or combed out to look good, it will be a mess. So needless to say, I did not have a good track record with neat and clean haircuts as a teenager because even a ‘Beatles’ haircut was across the line of what was considered ‘appropriate grooming standard’. I also spent more money than I ever wanted to just to keep my ‘effort to keep it neat’ maintained. Then there were things like tennis shoes. Adidas and Nike shoes were coming into popularity, as well as hiking boots. My Chuck Taylors were just not good enough anymore. I wish I had kept those shoes, knowing what a pair of Chuck Taylors sell for today. I didn’t want to wear a t-shirt as an under shirt to some ugly button up thing with really big ‘wings’ collars on them. I wanted to wear just the t-shirt, but that and my hair would have made me a hippie. Jeans (Levi’s) were the thing to wear and ‘bell bottoms’ that were so big they covered your shoes were in style. My parents went out of their way to find the smallest bell bottom possible, if a regular cut was not available.

I have mentioned hair, shoes, shirt and pants. This was a big deal to me. Growing up as an Army Brat (Dandelion), I never lived anywhere for longer and 18-24 months except for Berlin, Germany for 3 years (1975-1978). And then for high school (1980-1984), my brother and I both complained obnoxiously about wanting to stay in one place for four years. Well as luck would have it (if you want to call that luck), my parents were on the outs, so my mother, brother and I stayed in one place and my father went off for unaccompanied tours. I will probably bring this subject up again, as there is a whole other story here. I will stick with hair, shoes, shirt and pants for this story. Growing up and moving around I never had any friends that I had known my whole life or even for longer than 18-24 months, so trying to fit in and ‘look cool’ was a big issue. By the time I started high school I was getting old enough and brave enough to voice my opinions and deal with the fall out I knew was coming. My father was home intermittently so the only ‘fall out’ I had to deal with was from my father, but I think my mother caught most of that for allowing me to ‘get away with it’.

Just like every year before, I got new shoes, shirt and pants. They were my ‘school clothes’ and I was supposed to change clothes when I got home from school and wear my older, shabbier, torn clothes that I had worn the summer before the school year. That didn’t always happen and my older clothes were ‘cool’ looking. The knees were worn out and frayed. The color of the denim had faded. It represented that you had had that particular pair of pants for a long time and hadn’t changed your style. It represented a ‘strike against’ the parents for allowing me to go out looking like that. I WAS A REBEL, is what those torn, faded and frayed jeans yelled. Hiking boots were big, stiff, thick leather and coming into fashion. The ‘cool points’ you got for wearing ‘clod stompers’ and beat up old jeans...wow...you were ‘in’ before you even opened your mouth to say ‘Hi’ to someone. Meanwhile, my parents are arguing and fighting more and I’m not catching as much ‘fall out’ as it was a lesser issue compared to their issues. Just like those Chuck Taylors, I wish I had kept my old jeans, as they would have fetched a King’s Ransom of ebay today. Hindsight is 20/20 and you only get that knowledge (vision) in two ways...1) listen to your parents, which never happened in regards to clothing or 2) live it and be able to say ‘Been There, Done That’, in which case it’s too late as you have already done one thing (get rid of something in my case) and then learned that whatever you did was the wrong choice.

High school was fun (for the first 3 ½ years)in so many ways and I owe it to a guy that I can’t even remember his name or pick him out of a crowd. I think he was a senior, but maybe a junior, and he pulled me aside within the first week of school. I immediately went into defense mode, as I thought I was about to be initiated into high school. I believe they call in ‘bullying’ now as a freshener to the term ‘hazing’. There was no initiation, only wisdom being imparted from one person who has near the end of high school to a new person just entering high school. This guy only told me one thing... ‘Whenever your mother writes you a note for being absent, copy it and turn in your copy. If you do this from the very start the office will never notice the ‘different’ handwriting when you write your own note for skipping school.’ WOW, THIS GUY WAS A GENIUS!

So for 3 ½ years, I copied every note my mother ever wrote and also submitted notes of my own on the days that I just didn’t feel like being there. I spent my ‘days off’ at the lake, at my girlfriends house, wandering some other city, bowhunting rabbits, riding my dirt bike, whatever I felt like doing that day. On the days that my mother worked (that didn’t start until I was a junior) I could just stay home and be a bum, listening to AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Sammy Hagar, Judas Priest and all those other ‘devil music’ albums. And then it all came to a sudden stop.

I was up at the lake doing some cliff diving with my friends and drinking at the same time. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME BOYS AND GIRLS. I got more drunk and brave as the day progressed. Too late, I fell 75 feet before bouncing off of the rocks and then hitting the water. Someone pulled me out and called for an ambulance. I don’t remember the fall, being pulled out, the ambulance ride or even the 3 layer deep series of sutures being put into my leg along with a drainage hose. The gash was deep enough that they couldn’t fully close the outside (the skin) of the wound, as the inner part still needed air, drainage and time to heal. I was in BIG TROUBLE (more than I realized). My uncle was the first face I remember seeing and he let me know that my mother was furious, my father had been notified and that if I had any brains left in my head that I had better start ‘walking a straight line’. I spend 5 days in the hospital and another month a home with my leg up and doing nothing that would put pressure on the wound or it’s sutures. I had to go in for additional ‘stichting’ as the wound healed and more of it could be closed up, but I was still going to have a very nasty scar. That scar was still pretty visible when I turned 30. By the time I turned 40 it was there, but not something that grabbed people’s attention if I was wearing shorts. My brother being two years behind me was also in high school at this point and was able to pick up my school work and bring it home.

Remember ‘WOW, THIS GUY WAS A GENIUS!’, well that didn’t help matters as my mother made several trips to the school explaining that I couldn’t get up and walk from class to class all day or participate in any physical activities. She had to fill out and sign several forms and this is where it all caught up with me. I was in ‘deep doodoo’. My english teacher heard the rumors going around and the little that my brother told him and decided that he was not going to give me any ‘make up work’ to cover the in class lessons that I missed. This brought me to .5 credits short of graduating. I had to attend an adult school for two months of my summer vacation before leaving for the Marine Corps in order to make that up and still get my diploma from the high school. I did all the work, attended every class and did end up with a diploma from the high school in my hands.

I enlisted in the Marine Corps through the ‘delayed entry program’. Basically a sign up now and go to boot camp later type situation. I enlisted on Sept 15, 1983 via delayed entry and went to boot camp on Sept 9, 1984. My mistakes almost cost me not going into the Marine Corps. I had plenty of time to think while lying around for a month of healing. I realized my mistakes and had time to really think about my priorities in life. It didn’t work perfectly, as I will probably tell in future stories, but it got me going in the right direction and with some motivation to quit setting myself up for failure. Not setting myself up for failure helped me not only in the Marines but also in my personal and married life. ‘It is unfortunate that it happened’ I have been told. My response is ‘No, it is fortunate that it happened’ as it took that hard lesson in life for me to get my head out of my SMURF.

Where am I going with this, you might ask. Well it is pretty simple and basic, but I have learned that it works. First, CYA (Cover Your A$$) and second ‘if you take care of the small stuff, but big stuff usually takes care of itself’. ?? WHAT  If I had taken care to attend school every day; If I had taken care to not forge notes to skip school: If I had taken care to not be so interested in ‘bucking the system’; If I had taken care… If I had taken care of all these little trivial matters and completed them as required, then I would never have been at the lake and drunk, fallen off the cliff or had to listen to my mother’s embarrassment about her son having to attend night school in order to graduate from high school.

Remember: IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL STUFF, THE BIG STUFF WILL USUALLY TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. 

So what exactly is ‘the small stuff’? The small stuff can be anything. It could be oiling and sharpening your knives and tools when you should instead of when you need. It could be replacing all the hoses and belts on your vehicle’s motor at 100,100mi regardless if you think you only need to replace one hose. This is not cheap. I had every hose and belt replaced on my Ford Expedition at 100,000 miles and it cost me $6,000.00. Now this might seem expensive, but of the cost of a complete motor replacement caused by a hose that gave out (sprung a leak) while you are on the highway. Coolant is lost quickly, the engine heats up quickly and could even seize the whole motor before you get a chance to get of the road. Even if you do get off the road, you still can’t run your motor and cycle coolant through it. The damage from that type of event happens to Americans every year. The upfront cost scares people away from the task. The afterthought cost seems like ‘well, I should of…’ The small stuff can be anything. It is up to you to figure out what the small stuff is for you, that might lead to a larger issue.

Again remember: IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL STUFF, THE BIG STUFF WILL USUALLY TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. 

[Douglas]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
NICE PORCH 
N' a good read!  Look forward to the next installment.

[GrandpaPatch]

Safety, Cleanliness and Supplies:
This is not a required item, but highly recommended. With the differing 'cuts' of whittling and the funny angles that you need to get into, it is a good possibility that you will be thankful that you are wearing these. Here is a link to Amazon for the NoCry Cut Resistant Protective Work Glove with Rubber Grip Dots. You also want to make sure that you are using the sharpest blade(s) possible. The easier it cuts, the less likely you are to 'force it' or apply to much pressure and that increases your chance of not having a cut 'get away' from you and injuring yourself.



Again optional, but not wanting to upset the woman of the house I put together this little hook setup, so that I could use a towel as an apron. If you are married or with someone then I’m sure you have heard the old saying about ‘A happy wife is a happy life.” that saying can also be reversed to read  as ‘A miserable wife is a miserable life.”..




Underneath me, but still covering the seat area of my chair, is a sheet that covers that drapes down and under my feet covering the immediate area. That way there isn’t a loose flier piece that gets onto HER carpet.

Once I had the basic safety and cleanliness issues taken care of I moved on the getting some supplies to set up my basic whittling kit. That started with getting a new Hiker SAK, Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Whittling Book, sandpaper, Linseed Oil and a clear coat spray to apply once my projects were finished.



The sandpaper came in a 6pk, which was 2 sheets of each grit of 80, 150 and 220. This sheet were 9”x11”. I cut them into thirds lengthwise (3 strips of 3” ea. per sheet). And then further cut each strip in half giving me a total of 12x each grit of sandpaper.




I have taken care of the small stuff, so now I just need to start a project. As can be seen in the photos, I have already started on my first project but that will be another post.

[GrandpaPatch]

As mentioned in the What did you just get? I would post a review of the Mean Gene Leathers "Hot Tamale" Coin Purse. This is the review I posted on Mean Gene Leathers website.

"I recently ordered the “Hot Tamale”. I have been carrying it and using it as a coin pouch everyday for the last two weeks. I must say that this is a great item and worth every penny. The zipper is smooth. It doesn’t drag or catch on itself or the leather. The leather is thick, not bulky, but nice thick and solid feeling in my hand. There has been no staining or residue from the leathers finish. I have not seen a single thread ‘pop out’. This thing is very well crafted, with quality materials and a simplistic design. Now I don’t have to worry about all the loose change in my pocket. THANK YOU Mean Gene for a great item and addition to my EDC (Everyday Carry)."

[GrandpaPatch]

SAKWC Guide: Hand Held Sanding Tool (HHST)

I actually got two woodworking tools for the effort of whittling one. The Whittler’s Kit come with ten pieces. I used one piece (1”x2”x3/4”) straight out of the bag as a ‘sanding block’ for my projects. It fit the pieces of sandpaper that I had cut perfectly. The Sanding Block was already pre-cut and ready to go right out of the bag. I have no intention of sanding or shaping it, there is no need.

My first project was to make another tool, that I could use later on other projects. I started with a very basic Hand Held Sanding Tool (HHST), that would allow me to sand inside of curved areas.






You get the idea. This is a very, very basic thing to whittle. I was getting close to final prep for the Boiled Linseed Oil. in this photo but still had some a bit to whittle and some sanding to do.


The pre-cut piece of 1”x2”X3/4” fit perfectly. You can see the paper plate of shavings that have been collected during this process. They will be saved and used to refresh some of my tinder and fire starting kits that I have for camping. The HHST looks like a dog bone right now and I only fear that it will get worse.



So now the HHST has an elongated straight, rounded barrel shape, while the other end is not elongated, but rounded overall. Having used a tablespoon and wooden spoon as guides, I am fairly confident that future projects will allow me to whittle a decent spoon.



Some final touch ups on the sanding and then off to apply the Boiled Linseed Oil. After that dries I will apply a matte clear finish to it with some Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2x Ultra Cover - Matte Clear. Well SMURFTITY, SMURF, SMURF, the spray nozzle broke off while removing the cap on the can of clear finish. Here is the final product, minus the clear coat. That will have to waiting for later.

[GrandpaPatch]

I replied to the thread Re: The Original SuperTool. After taking the picture and posting it I noticed some muffled sounds coming from my 'bag of tricks', which is between my chair and the wall. Upon investigation I found that some of my other 'tools' (generic term) such as my Leatherman (Surge), my old Browning 3 blade hunting, folding knife and my always reliable, trusty Magliite were making the racket about wanting their fair share of 'time in the spotlight'. So I submit this photo in order to appease them. Yes, my tools talk to me and frequently let me know if they need some oil, cleaning, sharpening or other type of attention. 

[Nix]

I'm having a hard time seeing your flikr photos.

Just me?

 

[GrandpaPatch]

I'm having a hard time seeing your flikr photos.

Just me?

 

While using the MTO forums or when clicking on the photo?

[Nix]

While using the MTO forums or when clicking on the photo?

Yes.   

[GrandpaPatch]

While using the MTO forums or when clicking on the photo?

Yes.   

Respond with 1: on the MTO forums
Respond with 2: when clicking on the photo
Respond with 3: both 1 and 2.
Respond with 4: no longer an issue, you got it fixed.

[Nix]

[GrandpaPatch]

(Image removed from quote.)

I have been editing the link from Flickr to cut out excess text after the photo. I will stop doing that for future posts and see if that fixes your issue.