Red, white and Blue cars. An American Horror story!I mean a American Mystery…
Day 22Mini-challenge Sharpening a pencil takes a little extra time when you don't have a blade of any sort on your keychain plier tool. I decided that anything which allowed the pencil to write a message would be sufficiently sharp. Photo 1) A green pencil and the Swiss+Tech. Photo 2) I placed the pencil in the jaws of the pliers and ground down the paint and wood with them. Took a little while. Then I tapered the last fraction of an inch of the pencil a little. Still using the pliers. Photo 3) Wrote the message Finished on the paper holding the wood dust. The lead only peeked through on one side. The other is still covered with wood. Sharp? No. But it would do to write. I tried to think of the last time I bought a pencil. Or a pen. I'm not sure I ever bought a pencil. Went through school by borrowing paper and writing instruments. I bought a fancy silver Schaeffer when I got out of school. I still have it, but haven't used it in ages. I did buy some wire bound notebooks now and then and test Blue Books. Remember those? I begged, borrowed, or st... FOUND pencils and pens. School boys throw away pencils with no erasers. So there it is. I never bought a pencil that I can remember, and maybe only one pen. I still have sufficient numbers of both. I sharpened worlds of pencils with a pocket knife. My old Grandad said not to use pencil sharpeners. All they did was grind up the pencils, according to him. He was right, of course. Best wishes. Gary [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ] [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ] [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]
Two pencils and a stick.
Day 22It was a busy day and wasn’t home for most of it.I decided to do the mini challenge in the time before I left. The wind kept blowing the shavings away so there isn’t much pictured.Also, did have time for a beer.
When I went out earlier this week, I stopped in at Food Lion for some ham and cheese. I walked in the lobby and grabbed the first cart I saw. The cart didn't roll super great, but lots of these carts need maintenance. Then one front wheel locked up and skidded. I rolled it backward a step and looked to see what I had run over. Nothing. Went a few more steps and it did it again. From then on it was nothing but a problem to get this thing to roll. I just pushed harder and kept at it. Finally when I was getting close to checking out, the left front wheel locked up solid. I walked around the front and picked up the cart with one hand and dragged it to the checkout. The assistant manager was watching. He said, "Oh you got one of those." Then he pulled what looked like a key tab for turning on car alarms, etc. Just smaller. He pushed a button while pointing it at the wheel and said, "That did it." The cart had some sort of locking device on the front wheel. Couldn't see any mechanism that would cause a wheel to lock. Looked exactly like a front shopping cart wheel. I accused him of practicing dark magical arts. That took him back a little. Anti-theft device? Who knows. I am sure some of you are chuckling and would like to ask how I got my groceries stowed on my mule for the trip home. I know I'm behind the times. It doesn't bother me any. Best wishes. G
Final mini Challenge on Friday August 29:Use your mini pliers to bend a paper clip or wire into a unique shape. Any shape will do. It can be an unrecognizable doodle, a mess, a disaster, a zig zag or a pile of hog hockey. Bonus points for something recognizable like a cross, ring, arrow or tetradactyl (four toed) foot. Make a zipper pull, or wrap it around a pencil to make a spring shape. Or straighten the paper clip and use a file to make a micro flat driver. Post a pic of your mini pliers and paper clip abomination or masterpiece.(Image removed from quote.)