The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[NotWise]

The last three days have been windy enough to move things around. That gave me a first look at how the new shed beside the house reshaped the pattern of wind erosion. That's probably something most of y'all don't think about, but it tells me where to mulch.

We're on a warming trend through the end of the month. Provided that the winds stay low, I'll start moving the amaryllis that have already flowered to the patio during the day. They need direct sunlight to stay healthy.

There's light at the end of the tunnel for my new story. Too bad it was supposed to be for the Holiday contest. I'll save it for next year.

I wish I had a way to concentrate on stories the way some of you do. For me, getting them done becomes a journey, and it didn't used to be like that. I still have "The Girl in the Photograph" in progress, and more story ideas plague me all the time.

 

[NuclearFairy]

I wish I had a way to concentrate on stories the way some of you do. For me, getting them done becomes a journey, and it didn't used to be like that. I still have "The Girl in the Photograph" in progress, and more story ideas plague me all the time.

Yeah it's a long winding process sometimes.

 

[Belegon]

I'll be over in the corner wondering if I really have another story in me. It seems anything I can come up with is derivative and I can't seem to make anything out of it that's worth anyone wanting to read it ...

I think there is a certain amount of derivative inherent in writing about a subject that has been a source of fascination for most of human history and I think there is value in observing fresh takes on an obviously crowded field of interest.

 

[Belegon]

Yeah it's a long winding process sometimes.

I find that it goes back and forth. sometimes it's a slog, sometime things still move quickly for me. the "slog" stories tend to be deeper emotionally and are often the ones I consider more appropriate for future novel length publiscation. they still have value. some of the more quickly paced writing ends up here, which is definitely NOT to say that everything I publish here comes quickly and easily.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

It's starting out as another gray and chilly morning. The threatened snow flurries haven't showed up yet so we'll see how it goes. It looks like the NYC area is going to get hammered and I'm glad I don't live in upstate NY anymore. My BP has moderated so I'm hoping the Amlodipine is helping, although I'm concerned about the possible side effects.

There's fresh coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are snacks on the counter and if you can't find something you like, please let me know and I'll try to procure it for you. I see a few names on the sign up list for Spring cleaning so thanks for that.

I'll be over in the corner working on my story. Changing from 1P to 3P really changes how you look at the story and opens up some things that I think I can add to the story. I'll need someone to look at it when I'm done to make sure I did it right, but that's not going to happen right away.

 

[old_prof]

Best of luck with the storm for folks about to get hammered. A heavy snow fall is so much worse in a real city than in the boonies up here. And we're too far north to get any of this storm.

I was happy yesterday that I actually wrote a few paragraphs on my new novel. My first few paragraphs. Before I realized I needed to be more comfortable with the Maastrichtian eco system and geology un what is now Europe. More research to do. Hopefully back to writing today.

 

[sirhugs]

Best of luck with the storm for folks about to get hammered. A heavy snow fall is so much worse in a real city than in the boonies up here. And we're too far north to get any of this storm.

I was happy yesterday that I actually wrote a few paragraphs on my new novel. My first few paragraphs. Before I realized I needed to be more comfortable with the Maastrichtian eco system and geology un what is now Europe. More research to do. Hopefully back to writing today.

The trick is to be happy today that you wrote yesterday. And then work in the giant sea turtles.

 

[NotWise]

It's a bright but slightly crisp morning, and my only amaryllis that hadn't flowered yet is ready for it's closeup.



The flower at the bottom is "Sweet Star."

Only seven days left in February, so these guys might last through the rest of the month.

The Maastrichtian? Here, the last transgression-regression cycle of the Mesozoic ended early in the Maastrichtian. Much of this area was probably low-lying coast through the rest of the epoch. Conditions varied locally with the onset of the Laramide orogeny. That and subsequent volcanism obscured a lot of the details. Europe? I don't know.

Back to writing, where I'm trying to use a phone conversation and concurrent narrative to tell three weeks of the story in a hopefully interesting way.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Short, sharp shock of a cold blast. Should be the last gasp and spring should go sproing next week.

 

[TheLobster]

To balance out yesterday's terrible Wordle, today I got this

 

[dmallord]

It’s been a while since I’ve knocked on this door. I haven’t backtracked to see how things are going for all of you. Busy with arrangements for the love of my life, who passed on February 4th. Sudden. Shocked. I expected to go first, that’s what we talked about anyway, given my diagnosis.

Military internment on the 27th.

I’m feeling it with tears and sobs waking up each day now.

 

[SimonDoom]

To balance out yesterday's terrible Wordle, today I got this

View attachment 2597950

Impressive. I've been doing Wordle every day for a while. I had two "wordle in 2" days in a row a few weeks ago, but not since then. I had my first "wordle in 1" several months ago. Only took me about 700 or so efforts.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Damn. I'm so sorry, @dmallord.

Drop by when you can. We can't be there in person, but we can still be around.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

@dmallord - I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Don't be a stranger and drop in for a cuppa whenever you can.

We have snow on the ground this morning (unexpected) and it's unlikely to get warm enough for it to melt away today. I've started the new BP medicine but haven't seen much of a difference yet, although the small difference is in the right direction.

I've got a fresh pot of coffee going and the teapot is steaming. There are snacks on the counter and soft drinks in the 'fridge. I made a pan of brownies so help yourself.

I'll be over in the corner working on my story if the plot bunnies will stop nibbling on my ankles. Switching from 1P to 3P is forcing me to see the story I planned to write in a different light. We'll see if it does what I want ...

 

[TarnishedPenny]

@dmallord - So very sorry for your loss.

 

[NotWise]

Stay in touch, @dmallord.

I had two plywood sheets stored in the garage. They were both dark with age, but they probably weren't quite as old as I am. One was a back board behind the old workbench that I took down a few years ago, and the other was a shelf for overhead storage. Both of them were in place forty years ago when we bought the house. They'd probably been there since the house was new.

I repurposed one of them yesterday to make the top and shelf of a work table for the garden shed. I've never been able to easily manipulate a whole sheet of plywood by myself. It didn't get easier, but also maybe I was more careful about it than when I was at 35.

Getting the lumber and hardware to finish the job is on the agenda for later today. For now, back to the WIP.

 

[MrPixel]

I had two plywood sheets stored in the garage. They were both dark with age, but they probably weren't quite as old as I am. One was a back board behind the old workbench that I took down a few years ago, and the other was a shelf for overhead storage. Both of them were in place forty years ago when we bought the house. They'd probably been there since the house was new.

Even worse, if you were to need more, you would be unable to find a matching thickness. That long ago, 1/2"=1/2". Today, 1/2"=7/16".

Dimensional lumber (1x8, 2x4, 2x6, etc.) has undergone similar shrinkage. Our house was built in 1963, and repairs are a frustrating game of trying to match measurements.

 

[MrPixel]

@dmallord , we are so sorry for your loss. Feel free to share whatever you think you need to share, we're here for you. There but for the grace of God go we.

 

[NotWise]

Even worse, if you were to need more, you would be unable to find a matching thickness. That long ago, 1/2"=1/2". Today, 1/2"=7/16".

Dimensional lumber (1x8, 2x4, 2x6, etc.) has undergone similar shrinkage. Our house was built in 1963, and repairs are a frustrating game of trying to match measurements.

The sheets were an honest 5/8"--not 19/32. If I used new material it would be OFB, not plywood.

I think if you use rough-cut lumber it's actual size and nominal size are still the same. It's the finished lumber that's smaller.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Lapboard and plaster, that's the way to go on wall repairs. Well, if the house was built before 1950, at least. Or so I'm told! I haven't a clue what we're talking about, but I do know that only rough cut lumber is the actual size it says it is.

The sheets were an honest 5/8"--not 19/32. If I used new material it would be OFB, not plywood.

I think if you use rough-cut lumber it's actual size and nominal size are still the same. It's the finished lumber that's smaller.

 

[MrPixel]

I think if you use rough-cut lumber it's actual size and nominal size are still the same. It's the finished lumber that's smaller.

Dimensional lumber has shrunk twice in my lifetime. The current 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" for a 2x4 was standardized in 1961. I find that interesting because it's clear that the lumber used in our house was to the old standard, likely from a local mill that hadn't adopted the change.

The apartments we tore down a few years ago was originally built in the 1920s. Modifications during its 100 years were an aggravating mix of everything since. Part of the decision to raze the SOB.

 

[MillieDynamite]

In Open Range, there is a building under construction, the two-by-fours are finished lumber, which I'm not at all sure would have been the case in the 1880s. To add to my confusion, the livery stable's barn is all unfinished lumber. But, after all, it's only a movie, and Kevin Costner shot 12 times as he fanned his gun. I think I'm right on that. I believe it switched camera angles about halfway through, making it possible he reloaded and then shot more. Or the two shots were spaced in time, so they could have him fire twelve times from a six-shooter. Oh, and Robert Duval was fanfukingtastic in that movie.

Dimensional lumber has shrunk twice in my lifetime. The current 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" for a 2x4 was standardized in 1961. I find that interesting because it's clear that the lumber used in our house was to the old standard, likely from a local mill that hadn't adopted the change.

The apartments we tore down a few years ago was originally built in the 1920s. Modifications during its 100 years were an aggravating mix of everything since. Part of the decision to raze the SOB.

 

[MrPixel]

In Open Range, there is a building under construction, the two-by-fours are finished lumber, which I'm not at all sure would have been the case in the 1880s.

Not at all. Construction lumber was sourced locally, and a 2x4 or whatever was whatever the local mill provided, which could be an honest 2"x4"... or something less the mill owner thought he could get away with, "What's 1/8" between friends, huh?". I would go so far as to suggest framing lumber was all rough-cut then. It was virgin lumber, too, not the mamby-pamby farm-grown soft pine we get these days.

 

[old_prof]

Not at all. Construction lumber was sourced locally, and a 2x4 or whatever was whatever the local mill provided, which could be an honest 2"x4"... or something less the mill owner thought he could get away with, "What's 1/8" between friends, huh?". I would go so far as to suggest framing lumber was all rough-cut then. It was virgin lumber, too, not the mamby-pamby farm-grown soft pine we get these days.

Hey this is lit. All the wood is exaggerated by inches.

 

[MrPixel]

Hey this is lit. All the wood is exaggerated by inches.

Like the 18" being discussed in another thread?