Go to this link and let me know what you think.
http://newsbusters.org/node/11567
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Who'll bid me.....SOLD!
It was the first tractor I drove, and the same one I learned to back wagons with.
Or the elevator that carried the thousands of straw bales up to the mow from the wagon.
The wagons also went, the one that had the funny end gate and the annoying bars that we always tripped over. When we sheared the sheep we loaded the wool onto a cart, it also was on the bill. the three wheelers, the old baler that was broke more than it worked, the combine that was older than I was, the 'mini' (which was actually the biggest of the fleet) which almost ran away down the hill with me and the other equipment that introduced me to farming.
This past Saturday Grandpa auctioned off all of his farm equipment, even down to the cans of nuts and bolts that lived in the shop. I can't say it was really that 'hard' to see everything get sold but there was clearly a sense of history and nostalgia. It would be interesting to follow each piece to its new home and see how it fits into the operation there. No doubt each piece will make many more memories, but at different farms with different people.
Or the elevator that carried the thousands of straw bales up to the mow from the wagon.
The wagons also went, the one that had the funny end gate and the annoying bars that we always tripped over. When we sheared the sheep we loaded the wool onto a cart, it also was on the bill. the three wheelers, the old baler that was broke more than it worked, the combine that was older than I was, the 'mini' (which was actually the biggest of the fleet) which almost ran away down the hill with me and the other equipment that introduced me to farming.
This past Saturday Grandpa auctioned off all of his farm equipment, even down to the cans of nuts and bolts that lived in the shop. I can't say it was really that 'hard' to see everything get sold but there was clearly a sense of history and nostalgia. It would be interesting to follow each piece to its new home and see how it fits into the operation there. No doubt each piece will make many more memories, but at different farms with different people.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Irony
Here are a few for you to enjoy and ponder.
Sign at a bank drive thru window: "For your protection and due to limited visibility please have your Photo ID ready." Honestly, if visiblity is limited, what good does a photo ID do?
Does a snow plow ever get stuck?
Rosedale Bible College has an excellent internet filter set up for their students. It is so good in fact that it blocks parts of their own website from the students.
A congressional Hearing on Global Warming had to be postponed because of....you guessed it, a big snow storm
A sign advertsing meat reads: "Grass Fed Veal"
Sign at a bank drive thru window: "For your protection and due to limited visibility please have your Photo ID ready." Honestly, if visiblity is limited, what good does a photo ID do?
Does a snow plow ever get stuck?
Rosedale Bible College has an excellent internet filter set up for their students. It is so good in fact that it blocks parts of their own website from the students.
A congressional Hearing on Global Warming had to be postponed because of....you guessed it, a big snow storm
A sign advertsing meat reads: "Grass Fed Veal"
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
"The Laceration"
I am currently volunteering at Black Rock Retreat with an RBC work group during our week off.
This is what we are doing, tearing down this dilapidated shop
It roared to life, flawlessly doing its job, throwing sawdust as it is maneuvered through the board. With ease it makes pieces out of boards. With skill and care I watched for nails and and avoided them. Suddenly the saw jumped, as it had numerous times, and quickly contacted my glove. The glove was no match for the blade as it performed its required duties. The glove gave way and the blade continued sawing. This time tearing flesh and not wood. The result was immediately known, even before removing my mangled glove I knew the day's plans were going to change. I immediately got a clean towel, wrapped the half severed (left-hand) thumb and headed to the ER. The doctor numbed it, twice, cleaned it out and explained the damage was simply a "laceration." This "laceration" cut the thumb cross-ways right in the middle of the nail, and about half through. In the process of repairing the damage the doctor had to remove the front half of the nail (at least my manicures will be 10% cheaper) so he could put in the 4 stitches. After it was all said and done, this was the result. 1 neatly wrapped thumb.
This is the glove, that is a red liner not blood. The blood on the cuff I guess didn't get washed off.
I have been asked about the pain. right now my meds have worn off and it feels like I hit it with a hammer, it throbs a little, but is bearable. I will probably take a pill before bed to help ease the pain.
If any of you want to see what it looked like before the wrap, I have a picture on my phone I took while waiting in the ER. It isn't too nasty. Just let me know and I can show it too you.
Shortly after I arrived I was told that another guy came in with a similar injury, but apparently he wasn't going to leave with as many fingers as he started with. If you think about it, pray for him.
This is what we are doing, tearing down this dilapidated shop
Taking the roof off shingles and all proved to be the easiest.
The work of sledge hammers and digging irons.
THEN.....
The work of sledge hammers and digging irons.
THEN.....
It roared to life, flawlessly doing its job, throwing sawdust as it is maneuvered through the board. With ease it makes pieces out of boards. With skill and care I watched for nails and and avoided them. Suddenly the saw jumped, as it had numerous times, and quickly contacted my glove. The glove was no match for the blade as it performed its required duties. The glove gave way and the blade continued sawing. This time tearing flesh and not wood. The result was immediately known, even before removing my mangled glove I knew the day's plans were going to change. I immediately got a clean towel, wrapped the half severed (left-hand) thumb and headed to the ER. The doctor numbed it, twice, cleaned it out and explained the damage was simply a "laceration." This "laceration" cut the thumb cross-ways right in the middle of the nail, and about half through. In the process of repairing the damage the doctor had to remove the front half of the nail (at least my manicures will be 10% cheaper) so he could put in the 4 stitches. After it was all said and done, this was the result. 1 neatly wrapped thumb.
This is the glove, that is a red liner not blood. The blood on the cuff I guess didn't get washed off.
I have been asked about the pain. right now my meds have worn off and it feels like I hit it with a hammer, it throbs a little, but is bearable. I will probably take a pill before bed to help ease the pain.
If any of you want to see what it looked like before the wrap, I have a picture on my phone I took while waiting in the ER. It isn't too nasty. Just let me know and I can show it too you.
Shortly after I arrived I was told that another guy came in with a similar injury, but apparently he wasn't going to leave with as many fingers as he started with. If you think about it, pray for him.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
"I didn't think I was that close"
Operating large things is not easy, especially when vision is limited and the 'thing' is going in reverse.
Unfortunately I learned from my own mistakes. And thankfully no one got hurt and the damage was not too bad. I was backing one tractor trailer in beside another one and got too close. A bracket on the one slid along and sliced the trailer tarp on the other. Damage? 1 Really big hole in the tarp and my pride.
So this is what I spent the last two days doing. Replacing the old with the new.
After removing the old tarp, I cut the good piece off to save for future use.
The new tarp came in a gunny sack all nicely rolled up and clean.
Unrolling the new tarp.
On each side of the tarp is a pipe that slides into sleeves at each edge. I made double sure the tarp was oriented correctly as I really didn't want to do it twice.
I then rolled it up and lifted it onto the top of the trailer.
I spread it out across the trailer, making sure it was the right size and fit well. I also made sure to support this side so it didn't slide off onto the ground.
The stationary side is held in place by these brackets. The clamps pinch tight enough to hold the pipe, but have a gap for the tarp to fit through.
Installing the hand crank onto the roll pipe. The hand crank reaches to the ground and allows the operator to unroll/roll the tarp without climbing up onto the trailer.
And finally the finished product,
Road ready once again.
Unfortunately I learned from my own mistakes. And thankfully no one got hurt and the damage was not too bad. I was backing one tractor trailer in beside another one and got too close. A bracket on the one slid along and sliced the trailer tarp on the other. Damage? 1 Really big hole in the tarp and my pride.
So this is what I spent the last two days doing. Replacing the old with the new.
Surveying the damage of the old tarp after it is off the trailer.
After removing the old tarp, I cut the good piece off to save for future use.
The new tarp came in a gunny sack all nicely rolled up and clean.
Unrolling the new tarp.
On each side of the tarp is a pipe that slides into sleeves at each edge. I made double sure the tarp was oriented correctly as I really didn't want to do it twice.
I then rolled it up and lifted it onto the top of the trailer.
I spread it out across the trailer, making sure it was the right size and fit well. I also made sure to support this side so it didn't slide off onto the ground.
The stationary side is held in place by these brackets. The clamps pinch tight enough to hold the pipe, but have a gap for the tarp to fit through.
The clamps also double as stops to keep the tarp from falling off the edge when it is rolled to the open position (The tarp is not installed in this picture) 
The roll side has the tarp screwed to the pipe using these washers and screws. Screwing the tarp to the pipe prevents the pipe from slipping in the tarp sleeve when rolling it up.
Installing the hand crank onto the roll pipe. The hand crank reaches to the ground and allows the operator to unroll/roll the tarp without climbing up onto the trailer.
And finally the finished product,Road ready once again.
And this is what was on my mind,
distracting me from backing the truck (which caused the initial damage).
distracting me from backing the truck (which caused the initial damage).
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The 'New' Daily Grind
So I am a little tired, here's why.
My life , on a good day looks like this:
5:30 Alarm goes off
6:00 crawl out of bed
7-7:10 leave for school (I leave early so if traffic is bad I am still on time)
8-9:20 Western Civ
9:30-Chapel (I sometimes study cause I don't have to go as I am 'off campus')
10:35-11:55 New Testament survey
12:00-After talking to Sarah for a minute or two I head to the farm, eat lunch, change and then work
4:30ISH-leave and go home
5:30-It only takes 20 to get home but till I empty my stuff and get a shower and relax for a minute or two before supper.
6:30-Done with supper, Start Studying
10:30-Almost have everything read, but I am tired. I did take 2 or 3 breaks to relax for a few minutes, so it wasn't ALL schoolwork.
10:30 Post on this site
10:33 (estimated) change and other ablutions (look it up)
10:34 fall asleep
My life , on a good day looks like this:
5:30 Alarm goes off
6:00 crawl out of bed
7-7:10 leave for school (I leave early so if traffic is bad I am still on time)
8-9:20 Western Civ
9:30-Chapel (I sometimes study cause I don't have to go as I am 'off campus')
10:35-11:55 New Testament survey
12:00-After talking to Sarah for a minute or two I head to the farm, eat lunch, change and then work
4:30ISH-leave and go home
5:30-It only takes 20 to get home but till I empty my stuff and get a shower and relax for a minute or two before supper.
6:30-Done with supper, Start Studying
10:30-Almost have everything read, but I am tired. I did take 2 or 3 breaks to relax for a few minutes, so it wasn't ALL schoolwork.
10:30 Post on this site
10:33 (estimated) change and other ablutions (look it up)
10:34 fall asleep
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