FA+
Shop
If the spring gets wound too tight...
4 years ago
Hello again fellw Fa Artists, Writers, Sculptors, Crafters, Jewelers, Costumers, Fursuiters and other highly creative people.
I have a sort of little rule I like to live by, and this week it has really turned 'round and bitten me badly. I've learned through experience that if one wakes up and some little thing goes wrong, and they utter those most dangerous words: "It's going to be one of THOSE Days..." It will be. Believe me... For myself, it has been one of those "Weeks".
You see, Once one has set up the "Pins" of the day by stating it's going to be "One of Those days", The invisible Gods and Goddesses of Chaos and Mayhem start reaching into their collective closets, and taking up their favorite Bowling balls to head off to the lanes for some otherworldly fun. Once one has declared that "It's going to be one of those days..." The first irritation, seemingly minor, will only magnify any other problems that come along through the course of the day. So, let's rule out the incidents that bring on personal injury, and dwell on those things that are mildly irritating such as: Shoelaces breaking, Lightbulbs burning out, Unexpected Traffic Delays, losing a phone connection, or even an "Interesting" new Glitch developing on one's favorite web page. Those little irritations that make one wish that Ol' team Chaos and Mayhem will roll more "Gutter Balls" for a few frames.
Case in point, this day, Thursday, December 9th, 2021. It's one of a few "Palindrome" days left in the year if written in the "American Style" (12-9-21.) And I wanted to do something special. I have a backlog of drawings I was planning on inking, then scanning, and then getting them ready for posting on FA and other sites. So, I fired up my laptop, with the intent to send a few emails and attempted to connect to the 'net, but it took me about a half hour to make a connection. It was raining at the time, so I figured that perhaps the rain water, or a falling tree might have damaged or interfered with the transmissions. I also have to wait until my Roommate Noah gets up as the only access into my office is through his bedroom. Of course, Noah had stayed out pretty late and slept in well past 1:00 PM. "Great!" I figured I could at least try to spend the next five and a half hours working on the art and hopefully make it to the Afternoon chat with my friends back East. So I set up my art table, and got ready to get to work, and The Phone rings with a friendly robot reminder of a future Doctor's appointment, and so I had to go downstairs to check the date on my calendar. I then realize I'm hungry, so I decide to fix myself some lunch but, I end up writing a new page in my medical journal because my blood pressure was really high. After my meal, I go back upstairs, and it's well past 4:00 PM. I needed to take a bathroom break, and believing I could get right to work after that, I flush the toilet, and the handle comes loose on my hand. I open up the top of the tank to find the plastic strap that connects the flapper valve to the handle had parted neatly in two. I figured I'd replace the cheap plastic strap with a length of brass chain I had on hand, but Alas! No connector hooks! Fifteen minutes of searching in the garage had no positive results, but I did spy a jar full of zip ties which I figured I could sort of "Staple" the two broken halves of the strap together with. I return to my task, and attempt to shut off the water feed to the tank, only to find the valve frozen solid. (I also had trouble with that "Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty" Axiom.) I decided that a squirt of penetrating oil would do the trick, but as I took up the Wetness Dispersing Formula 40 can, I found out the can had lost all its pressure. Another trip to the garage, and I found another can that worked. After finally draining the tank, I was able to complete my task in far less time that I wasted searching for the parts and tools to do the job. By this time, the chat was well over and I still had several emails to send. I finished writing close to 10:00 pm and I decided to call it a night.
I could call a day like that a "Mister Foxy" day, but considering the mishaps and adventures I put my little Vulpine Alter Ego through, I figure he needs a break in the action too. If it rains like the weather people promise later in the next week, I will wrap myself up in the blankets like a big "Fox Burrito" and sleep in. We'll see where that goes.
Do I hear "Muse" chuckling and yelling "Set 'em up!"?
"Peace."
I have a sort of little rule I like to live by, and this week it has really turned 'round and bitten me badly. I've learned through experience that if one wakes up and some little thing goes wrong, and they utter those most dangerous words: "It's going to be one of THOSE Days..." It will be. Believe me... For myself, it has been one of those "Weeks".
You see, Once one has set up the "Pins" of the day by stating it's going to be "One of Those days", The invisible Gods and Goddesses of Chaos and Mayhem start reaching into their collective closets, and taking up their favorite Bowling balls to head off to the lanes for some otherworldly fun. Once one has declared that "It's going to be one of those days..." The first irritation, seemingly minor, will only magnify any other problems that come along through the course of the day. So, let's rule out the incidents that bring on personal injury, and dwell on those things that are mildly irritating such as: Shoelaces breaking, Lightbulbs burning out, Unexpected Traffic Delays, losing a phone connection, or even an "Interesting" new Glitch developing on one's favorite web page. Those little irritations that make one wish that Ol' team Chaos and Mayhem will roll more "Gutter Balls" for a few frames.
Case in point, this day, Thursday, December 9th, 2021. It's one of a few "Palindrome" days left in the year if written in the "American Style" (12-9-21.) And I wanted to do something special. I have a backlog of drawings I was planning on inking, then scanning, and then getting them ready for posting on FA and other sites. So, I fired up my laptop, with the intent to send a few emails and attempted to connect to the 'net, but it took me about a half hour to make a connection. It was raining at the time, so I figured that perhaps the rain water, or a falling tree might have damaged or interfered with the transmissions. I also have to wait until my Roommate Noah gets up as the only access into my office is through his bedroom. Of course, Noah had stayed out pretty late and slept in well past 1:00 PM. "Great!" I figured I could at least try to spend the next five and a half hours working on the art and hopefully make it to the Afternoon chat with my friends back East. So I set up my art table, and got ready to get to work, and The Phone rings with a friendly robot reminder of a future Doctor's appointment, and so I had to go downstairs to check the date on my calendar. I then realize I'm hungry, so I decide to fix myself some lunch but, I end up writing a new page in my medical journal because my blood pressure was really high. After my meal, I go back upstairs, and it's well past 4:00 PM. I needed to take a bathroom break, and believing I could get right to work after that, I flush the toilet, and the handle comes loose on my hand. I open up the top of the tank to find the plastic strap that connects the flapper valve to the handle had parted neatly in two. I figured I'd replace the cheap plastic strap with a length of brass chain I had on hand, but Alas! No connector hooks! Fifteen minutes of searching in the garage had no positive results, but I did spy a jar full of zip ties which I figured I could sort of "Staple" the two broken halves of the strap together with. I return to my task, and attempt to shut off the water feed to the tank, only to find the valve frozen solid. (I also had trouble with that "Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty" Axiom.) I decided that a squirt of penetrating oil would do the trick, but as I took up the Wetness Dispersing Formula 40 can, I found out the can had lost all its pressure. Another trip to the garage, and I found another can that worked. After finally draining the tank, I was able to complete my task in far less time that I wasted searching for the parts and tools to do the job. By this time, the chat was well over and I still had several emails to send. I finished writing close to 10:00 pm and I decided to call it a night.
I could call a day like that a "Mister Foxy" day, but considering the mishaps and adventures I put my little Vulpine Alter Ego through, I figure he needs a break in the action too. If it rains like the weather people promise later in the next week, I will wrap myself up in the blankets like a big "Fox Burrito" and sleep in. We'll see where that goes.
Do I hear "Muse" chuckling and yelling "Set 'em up!"?
"Peace."
-2Paw.
Thanks for saving my life.
Dah Dah Dah.
Even before then, as a day descended into chaos and disaster, I'd often get a little cheerful. Because I knew exactly how bad things were. And could see how bad things could be. And that the things that went wrong, could be indeed dealt with.
And now, off to work to figure out why a JCB Telehandler lost its lights and wiper power (with the fuses still good), to pull the alternator off a Case 60XT skidloader (used to transfer manure from the cow barn to the pit) to see if it is underperforming and thus resulting in battery drain every couple days. Oh, and to pick up a bunch of oil and air filters for a bout of oil changes tomorrow.
I might get to do some welding, though! I need to finish up some welds where I'm rebuilding the quick attach for a bucket for said skidloader. Perhaps repair the unloading conveyor tray for a feed mixer that's awaiting the replacement for the replacement air compressor (the one installed the other day apparently had a blocked internal oil channel... which was discovered after the bearings chewed themselves up barely an hour and a half of use). Got a couple other skidloader buckets to rebuild, all broken and worn and rusted. Oh, and I need to install a piece of plexiglass to replace the backhoe window that was accidentally broken a couple weeks ago (I think it was a tree branch).
I also need to make time to dig up a water line that's made a new spring next to a barn.
So much to do, and who knows what other things will break that need my attention!
as for lights and wiper power going down without fuses taken with them, try and check the switch. it sounds to me that both lights and wiper go through the same steering column switch. if that doesn't help I'd check the switch behind the keys. too many constructions, including cars, don't use relays for that and let all 12volts and 20 amperes go over the ignition switch contacts... :P
The loader problems also include instrument panel being dead. I just need the time to find the common link for all three systems-- such as the ignition switch.
And all that got pushed back so I could transfer the air compressor from one truck to the other, and jury-rig what didn't quiiiite match up. I got it to work, and it is reversible for when the right parts arrive...
the battery died from the abuse a month later while I was driving to a con in a remote area. luckily I got helped by friendly people...
gotta love it when machines delivered in long series are still very individually made, when one part is just out of stock they use somethign else for the next three machines... which then end up in your hands.
many years ago I worked at NEOPLAN's main fabrication site, screwing with omnibusses. since the majority of them were one, two, or three items in a row (we were there to create the special vehicles for special orders) a lot of things were hand-made specifically for this vehicle. my line of work was to connect the turbocharger to intercooler and air filter, and close a access opening. the myriad of possible engines and body forms led to a lot of solutions. also, the elctricians doing the wiring had their own ways of connecting and naming things, and I got told you could never be sure which cable colour leads where... XD
-And Thanks.
I actually use that description as "Mama Murphy", Murphy's Law given visceral female human form, a tale and I suppose one would say demi-goddess / superstition held by the anthro raccoons in my science fiction setting. They invoke her only with reverence and respect, lest she turn her (very unwanted) attentions on them. She's described like some weird modern-day Baba Yaga - an old human crone, withered, ugly, wrinkled, wearing clothing many generations out of date (and even then never in style), eternally sitting in front of a VERY hyper-modern computer that is essentially omniscient. Withered hands covered in gang tattoos, none nice, often profane, but her right hand index finger is clearly written "SMITE", and waits poised over the button to drop mishap and mayhem on those not paying enough attention and reverence/respect.
I'm certain I'll let you all know how things work out.
-Annnd Thank you for giving me a reason to chuckle.
Well, yesterday started with my IBS-D rearing its ugly head. I ate salad for three days straight. Not a problem; salad is good for me, right? Only it's a recipe for disaster. Loperamide helps, but my day has still gone down the tubes, as it were.
In addition to annoying health issues, every scammer in the world has both my house phone and cell phone on speed dial. Honest people, I know my six-year-old car is out of warranty. And I'm not going to invest in your wonderful, expensive plan, because even if it isn't a phishing fraud scheme to steal my identity, the real plans ALWAYS go broke within a year so they can keep all the premiums.
Nothing broke; the toilet behaved itself well (it had better, for what I paid for it). However, I had to buy a new tablet recently -- the old one is an ancient version of Android and won't run modern apps. The new one... has a slot for a Micro SDXC card, up to 1TB. So, I had a little money leftover in my computer budget and bought just that -- I may never fill it up but I have it. I also have tons of dig-it-all comics I bought online, and the 11" tablet is the perfect reading format, so that's where a lot of the day went: filling a nearly bottomless pit. Then I discovered that the automated transfer from my tired old tablet to the shiny new one did not go as planned. That's a project for another day.
So, today I have to run to the far side o the county to pick up the new case for the new tablet, and hit the LARGER
version of my favorite warehouse store for staples -- or no dinner tonight.
At least I don't have to disturb my brother to work on my computers. This weekend? Scanning two old furry comic books I found on The Auction Site. Probably. Maybe.
as for the water valve... here is a trick for the future, if you have to open it fully. once you reach the "open" stopping point, close again for 1/4 turn or so. that way, if you one day have to close it and start to turn it wrong you soon will feel the mistake, and can correct it. if the valve is at the upper stop already you might rip it off thinking it is closed because it won't budge. don't let anyone tell you a 1/4 turn will block out what has to go through; in reality it doesn't make any measurable difference.
sorry to hear your day was sacrificed to Murphy. at least you didn't break and go postal... XD
of course. his rules descripe things optimally. XD
Had a terrible day of crazy about 30 years ago, madness, crazed boss, traffic, company car issues, etc. Finally stagger into the house hours later than usual. My understanding wife hands me a reheated plate of food. The plate broke off where I was holding it and dumped everything on my feet. A perfect capper to a perfect Murphy day. I gave up, went to bed. At least the bed didn't break... Stay safe! Stu