OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

992 Larry McGuire <larrym@s...> 1996‑06‑14 Bio
When it comes to lurkers, I can lurk right up there with the
best of them.  Then, about a month or so ago, I saw someone 
withold a "galoot definition" from a guy who was bio-less.  I vowed
to step forward.

Well, yesterday I reached another milestone in the 12 step program
to Neanderthalism.  My wife called me at work and asked what tools
I was donating to the garage sale.  I said I wasn't and she said I
had to because she had already put the add in the paper and the add
included tools.  "Tools and Little Tykes stuff", she said, "that's what
brings people out."  So I thought about it and I told her to grab 
the Makita vibrating sander.  She asked what to price it and I thought
"How much was that gizmo in Lee Valley for turning the perfect hook
on a scraper? I think $27."  So I said $27, and hung up.  Was it
coincedence that at that exact moment, the sun moved from behind a 
cloud and my office was bathed in golden sunlight? (Gawd, it's dirty in
here!)

Here at The Firm, we can name our workstations.  I have a new one
being set up now, and I told them to name it 'tenon'.  However, 
after the recent discussion, I told the SA to call it 'galoot'. 
He looked at me and asked if he should include "Big" or "Dumb" in front of
it.  At least he thought it was funny. 

BTW, I have never seen so many "Larry's" in one place.  This is great!
When asked to account for saying something stupid (common), I've 
never before been able to say, "I dunno, must have been one of the other
Larry's".  

By day I turn great amounts of Mt. Dew into code that ingests satellite 
data.  By late afternoon, into evening I tend to two really great girls, 
while Mom works.  After their bedtime, (and they are professional 
procrastinators), I try to get down in the basement shop.  

My father-in-law, a Normie since the day that electrons were taught to move,
gave me my start in woodworking. And over the years, I have built up 
a small arsenal of power tools.  Was even looking forward to the day I could
run 220 to my side of the basement.  But then a MF No 9 was found in 
some of my Grandpa's things. Next there was the brace and bits at an auction.
A handsaw here and a mortice guage there and soon woodworking was entirely
different.  And during my father-in-law's last visit...He was looking at
a pair of end tables I built.  "Nice job", he said. "Thanks, the tops are
hand planed." His jaw drops as I say in my best James Bond voice "and
scraped, not sanded."

Anyway, it's nice to be on the porch with a modem connection by every rocker,
but no electrical outlets.  Hmmmmmm.

 

-- 
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Larry McGuire                  larrym@s...

Space Science & Engineering Center     
University of Wisconsin, Madison        
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Recent Bios FAQ