Materials Matter!

As some of you know,  I like to use different materials, depending on the job.
One of them is called HDU or High Density Urethane.  Unlike wood, it has no grain and
won't be eaten by bugs.  One of the brands I use is called Coastal Enterprises Precision Board.
I like the 30lb weight (it comes in less density and much much more!).  They recently did a story about
my work at:  http://precisionboard.com/sign-making/making-3-d-signs-pretty-cool-job/

I can only say thank you and keep watching!

Under Pressure

My Thanksgiving holiday came with a bit of a surprise.

A visit to a prompt care facility in Peoria became the kind of adventure I
have little interest in repeating.

After checking my blood pressure, they insisted that I go to
an emergency room.  Once there, I was admitted.  The numbers were
abnormally high, in fact so high they seemed shocked that I looked
normal and was not experiencing pain.
I remained there for 2 nights as they lowered the pressure and monitored
my progress.
I left, but returned within 2 days because other numbers on my bloodpressure
were high.  Another overnight stay and the numbers were lowered.
I was finally released, and have been maintaining a much much lower
pressure.

I am now seeing my regular physician and following his advice regarding
medication and lifestyle changes.  My activities have not been limited and
I was pleased to find that I do not have diabetes or other complications.
Listening to your body is important, and had I not gone in to see the doctor,
the outcome could have been much much worse.

On the up-side, I have already lost weight and drastically changed my
diet.   The first week or so was a challenge, as the new medications
set my operating pressure much lower than before.  I was very tired
those first few days, but each day has improved and I have more energy
with each day.

For years I have known that I needed to change my eating and activity
levels, and had actually been doing more walking and generally being
more active...but this event made it clear that more serious actions had
to occur.

I simply hadn't realized how very much salt I had in my diet!  Far too much.
I have a feeling many many people don't really have a handle on how much
salt they intake throughout the day.

Anyway, I'm making good progress and am now back at it in my new shop
(which has internet access!!). 

I'll soon be posting more fun pictures of new projects and wish you a very
very happy holidays!

Walldogs in Kewanee!

The state of Illinois has completed a fantastic video about the work the Walldogs did in Kewanee this year.  I was the project leader for the Sandy's mural, and had an outstanding team and great time!
This video is a brief look at what the walldogs did and how much it's meant to Kewanee!
My daughter, Elena is one of the girls at the very beginning! My trailer also shows up!

http://www.enjoyillinois.com/thingstodo/details/6049468

Celebrate Good Times

In a few short days, my daughter will be eleven.
The time has passed very quickly. New parents, believe me when I tell you that all
the people telling you to enjoy the little things now are right.
In one part of my brain, my little girl is still very much the baby I was so happy to meet
eleven short years ago.

She's the girl who loves stuffed and real animals and wants to surround herself with them whenever possible:

And she's the one in the family who likes making other people laugh as much as she likes to laugh:

So last weekend, she informed us that the weather at the end of November is never good, and her birthday party would be held that weekend.  Very logical.  She invited several friends and we celebrated.  In the next picture, she's about to unwrap a present:

The next photo proves that sometimes pure joy is just too fast to capture:

So how do you wrap up a great party with friends? Lunch in the leaves the next day, of course:

So Happy Birthday Elena Bobena Gozena Baru! I certainly certainly do love you!

For my own part, the big news was moving the cnc machine to the new shop!

Tomorrow I'll be wiring her up and then it's time to get to work! Projects are already begun!

I need gas.

Working at home today paid off.  Both the welder and my helmet arrived.
I've taken them to the shop and now just need to get some Argon gas
and I'm ready to go! I don't know, should the helmet be a little more steampunk?
Yeah, I thought so too.

Tomorrow the wire for internet should be run underground, and then it's on to the cnc machine.  I also have to pick up the lath and pencil rod... NO time to waste!