There have been numerous points in my life where there has been a substantial change, something stamped permanently in my make-up.
I’ve just spent an exquisitely wonderful day doing things that even I had begun to suspect I was not going to do again. Apart from a couple of fiddly little projects I’ve been toying with, it’s a long time since all my machinery got to have a play.
Simple things – an improvement in economic outlook, a reminder of how much I love the night skies, a clear assertion of who I am and what I believe.
Being a parent to a late-teen who’s having all the experiences of that age is a reminder to me that pain is pain, and it’s unbelievable how many shades of pain there are. All distinct, arrived at by different formulae. My boy is getting to learn from things that I’ve never had to deal with. I can’t imagine how the Universe looks from his perspective, but I recognise his pain as each of the rites of passage takes place in its own time and in its own way.
I’m a pretty hide-away kind of guy. I spend most of my time way down the back of the yard in my caravan, where I can make strange AVS sounds night and day without anyone complaining. But times like this I really make sure the boy knows I’m right here any time he wants me. I don’t want to fuss and crowd, or overwhelm with sage advise. I don’t think he wants that either. He knows I know and he knows I know he knows.
Something a little strange about today’s project. I didn’t have to rush out and buy a heap of stuff before I started. It was actually a very good day of recycling. The project is a mount for a bino-telescope that’s on it’s way. After picking through all the carcases of projects past, I identified the base of a pier with three flat legs with levellers, and a lazy susan bearing type Dobsonian mount that I had briefly used for the 14″ f7 Newt. As it happened, the slots for the alt bearings of the scope just happen to be at the exact right height for the centre of altitude rotation of the human head. The logical conclusion is a sit-in mount, where you paddle your way around with this pair of perfectly counterbalanced 100mm semi-apo binoculars between you and the stars.
Thus far the pier and the mount have been cleaned up and prepared to be assembled. The pivot arm on which the scope and counterweights will mount has been cut and welded. The 90mm diameter aluminium pivot bearings have been cut and machined.
I was pleased to find that my aptitude hasn’t changed through the period of disuse. I still suck at welding and I still have no idea why my bandsaw won’t cut an accurate angle (umm, something about tools and blaming thereof?) Nonetheless, I have a very high hit rate on ending up with something that does what I intended it to. Quite often I look at it once I have it and realise that I’m never going to do the thing that this thing is meant to do. Actually I’ve done most things that I’ve done at least twice – once to do it and the second time to prove I wasn’t scared. On this occasion I have a very reasonable expectation of getting the pleasure I anticipate. There’s just been a very strange confluence of events that make it clear that this is just one of those thing’s that’s meant to be. A master of self-justification? Yes. Always on first impulse, but I’ve got a pretty good eye for it now, and this project scans clean. Astronomy and engineering have resurfaced often enough over the years for it to appear that they’re a stable part of my cycle. They’re things I can only enjoy doing when I’m pretty relaxed, feeling good and have a little kick of excitement going on.
A few more brand-name commercial entrainment sessions have come my way for consideration. I think I’m going to stand by my earlier statement that this kind of content doesn’t invite critique beyond technical competence. The particular sessions I’ve listen to claim a 3-point entrainment system which they describe in substantial detail in their product manual. The three entrainment techniques disclosed are used very cleverly in the sessions. I consider them to be well constructed examples of the meditation program sub-genre. I love hearing other designer’s work. I consider it a real look into the present nature of the artist.
Oh, yeah! The whole household is enjoying one major upper – Lori got the required “Negative” in her last blood tests – she no longer has Hep C – the Pegasys Interferon treatment has worked! Another sixteen weeks of treatment to finish off the job and the bad days will have been all worth it. I don’t know how Lori fared compared to anyone else, there were some pretty rough patches, and I think my Lori is one tough chick, but we both agree that it’s obviously not always as bad as the many tales of woe and suffering that are posted around the net. Once piece of advise we were given, and that we’re now very glad she took, was to start on antidepressants a few weeks before starting the Interferon. There’s no doubt that the treatment makes a pretty hard hit on mood and outlook. Prophylactic antidepressants made a big difference. I think she’s got an awesome family too – I just marvel at the love all her kids have for her. I’m so proud of them all. I’m proud of all my kids, even the ones who I have seen so little of. All meeting the challenges of life with flare, and oh, what a spectacular range of experiences they’re finding for themselves.
Cheers,
Craig
