Autumn

Autumn

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Bits & Pieces

I type this post under a handicap...kinda reduced to a seek and peck on my keyboard. Two days ago, like an idiot, I reached into a box for a thingamajig and cut my right point finger on an upraised discarded razor. Deep. I said a few magic words like; gosh golly gee, and ah shucks, then, darn it all. It hurt.

Dripped blood across the length of my garage and through the house to our bedroom where I left a trail on my wife's carpet then into the bathroom. Slung a bit on the mirror after leaving a puddle in a drawer where I attempted to dig out a bandaid...ever try to apply a bandaid with your left hand when you're right handed. Yeah, like that.

Anyway, now you know why I didn't post yesterday. Since I was out of commission, Sweet Wife grabbed my laptop and would not return it. Gave me a look, she did...

It's still sore. More of an aggravation than painful. Razor blades are kinda sharp.

Believe it or not Sweet Wife made me clean the blood trail. Mean woman.

*****

Remember the H&R Plainsman .22 rifle....of course you do. It was broken, or so I thought. I had a few minutes the other day and glanced over and grabbed the rifle. Took a long look at it. Removed the action from the stock and discovered the hammer frozen in place. The rifle was manufactured in 1948, according to the serial number, and I'm sure the action (trigger and hammer and bolt) had not been oiled since the day it left the line.

I applied some lubrication and a few gentle taps with punch and hammer and after a few minutes had the old girl back in action. Placed a .22 short round in the chamber and walked out back and pulled the trigger. Nice little pop.


She needs further care. I'll take her home and strip the barrel, and if I'm in the mood, put a fresh blue on her. She isn't worth more than fifty bucks, but she is a man sized rifle and worth the effort.

*****

I've had my nose stuck solidly in a book the last few days. Our television is seldom on of late...darn Olympics. When your channels of choice are reduced to Discover and History and The Outdoors Channel, and the programs are repeats, well, why bother.


Thank goodness for books.

*****

I purchased five fifty caliber ammo cans at the gunshow last weekend. Poof - they're full. I need about ten more of the same.

Sad, isn't it.

*****

Time for work.

Please, take care out there.

Stephen

30 comments:

  1. Not sat, as Matt said. Sorry 'bout your finger, though; those blades do tend to be sharpish.

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    1. It happens...I'm either cutting or banging myself on a daily basis. Gets old. Thanks, my good friend.

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  2. I typically experience the same level of compassion from Mrs. B when I come within an inch of death's door! But, she's got her good points . . . .

    Nice about the rifle - I love it when old tools can be lovingly restored and once again become useful. Got a solution for an iffy back and sore feet?? I tried WD40 - it was a no-go!

    Enjoy your day sir!

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    1. Women are hard on us wussy types...

      Yes, I was happy to find it such an easy fix. Poor guy, guess I should give him a few dollars for it. Then again....

      Thanks, my friend.

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  3. Duct tape and shop rags (try to get the ones without grease). Move on.

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    1. Now why didn't I think of that quick fix. I shall.

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  4. Stephen,

    Cut a finger that you use daily is very painful, especially with a darn razor blade. Thats just as bad as cutting your thumb nearly off with the darn saran wrap teeth when trying to get plastic wrap to cover a bowl of food. The finger will not heal fast enough because you're always using it or washing your hands. It's a good excuse to get out of some work around the house, hehehe...

    Ammo cans are a staple in most homes. We're always looking for them when out and about at shows, estate and yard sales.

    Enjoy you 22 and give the misses a hug.

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    1. It's in a bad place...every time I stick my hand in my pocket it rips the sucker back open. The pain isn't bad it's just an irritation...that and blood on my equipment.

      Ammo cans have gotten stupid expensive of late. I shall indeed give her a hug...thanks, Sandy.

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  5. Replies
    1. I believe, if I'm correct, a book you recommended...'Grid Down Reality Bites.' Not great, not bad and it needs a lot of edit. But it's a read. Thanks, my friend.

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    2. I did not reccomend, but it is a tough call. There is good with the bad. For a book that is actually first in a series it is really really long. I got really tired of the super predator dog packs. Give me some heavy clothing (and much of it is set in the frigid north, and a 5' length of rebar, the dogs won't be coming back. I had a large hunting hound trying to make claim to my back yard yesterday, and he ran a long way after I went after him.

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    3. Russell, I agree, and to be truthful the writing is awful. The couple, I take it, co-wrote the book and need an editor in the worse way. Thanks, my friend.

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  6. At least Tetnus shots have gotten smaller.

    About the H&R good for you on bringing back what might have been some farm boys cherished companion.

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    1. Haven't had a tetnus shot in years, need one I guess. Yes, it was nice to repair the 'ole girl. She sure needed some love. Thanks, my friend.

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  7. You only really need 2 fingers to speed type.

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    1. Got eight...I'm fearless on the keyboard. Nice to have you home.

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  8. Stephen...keep yourself a jar of ground up cayenne pepper in your workshop. A sprinkle on an open, bleeding wound will coagulate the blood almost instantly. Too funny about sweet wife making you clean up. I can clean up anything but puke. If someone is even in my vicinity throwing up, I will have to join in, can't look at it and can't smell it. Thank God the marine in his 16 years of my taking care of him has only been sick to his stomach one time.

    Sweet 22.... I got a new toy this week too! Have fun reading. Papa Bear is a two finger typist and his fingers aren't injured....lOL

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    1. Yes, indeed, Mamma Bear, she's downright mean to me...thanks for the pepper idea, I shall do it.

      I'm a fast typist but when one of your fingers is out of commission it sure slows me down. Thanks, sweet lady.

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  9. Dang it! I knew that H&R could be saved.

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    1. You were correct...just took me having the time to look her over, and what do you know...little effort and she shoots fine. Thanks, my friend.

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  10. Phyllis (N/W Jersey)August 8, 2012 at 2:34 PM

    I feel for you with the razor blade cut. I always try to put them down in a safe place, but sometimes....
    Treated myself to a new .22 - a Savage Mark II. Just the perfect size for me and not heavy. Gonna go outside and play now.

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  11. Too bad about the finger. My wife frowns on me bleeding all over the house too.

    Love those ammo cans. Used to get them cheap or free, but my connection dried up. Should have gotten a whole lot more.

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    1. Thanks, Sixbears...remember when you could find them at garage sales and flea markets for five bucks each. Ah, the good ole days.

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  12. dear sweet one - if the finger hasn't sealed itself by tomorrow, meaning if you keep ripping it open...rinse it with cold water, then hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol if you can stand it and then put a strip of crazy glue on it and press it together. crazy glue was actually a glue invented for hospital use for things like scratches and rips that can't be sewn back together. it works like a charm. trust me!

    i once got in the middle of a cat-fight with my pregnant cat and a large, scary tom, i got my cat away but the tom jumped on me, i fell down on my back, he jumped on my face, ripped half of my lip off, tore my left arm to shreds with front and back claws (i was using the arm to protect my face)...and ripped a large cut across the tendon in my wrist. at the hospital, the doctor said that he couldn't do stitches to fix the shreds...that instead he would use glue. i asked him..."is it like crazy glue?". he said "no, it's not like crazy glue...it is crazy glue." he used it to glue my dangling lip back on as well. he said that stitches on my lip would leave horrible scars and that it was better to use the glue. i still have a scar on my lip but i can only imagine what 10 scar stitches on my lip would look like!

    then another time, i sliced in between my thumb and index finger right to the bone...i ran to my neighbour's...he had worked in many third-world countries and asked if i wanted him to crazy glue my deep wound. i said yes. he glued it and wrapped it in a tensor bandage. i slept with it all night - the next morning we took off the tensor bandage - it was sealed. and that is an area that would have required a minimum of 20 stitches!!!

    only last year, jambaloney sliced the entire tip of his finger and half of the nail off of his index finger with an exacto knife. we grabbed the tip of his finger off of the table, rinsed it in peroxide as well as his actual finger, crazy-glued it back on...it was sealed and healed in a day.


    all of this to say is that if it keeps ripping open - crazy glue it. it will work wonders.

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Now I wish I'd of though of crazy glue. I need to stock a supply. Thanks for the great advice, sweet one.

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  13. wow kymber! what an exciting life you've lived. Do you have to dry the wound prior to glue application?

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    1. kristine - after rinsing the wound in cold water, and applying, first rubbing alcohol and then hydrogen peroxide - yes, dry the wound very quickly with a soft, very-used and washed 100% cotton cloth (so that there will be very few fibres left)...and then dab on the glue. then press the wound together and within 10 seconds, it will seal. cover/wrap the wound with a tensor bandage or any other bandage for about 10-12 hours...sleep with it if possible...the next morning take off the bandage(s) and let the wound be out in the air - it will be sealed by this point. try not to bang it or anything but after 10-12 hours - the crazy glue will have sealed it up and it will take a lot to re-open it. i hope this helps. if you have any more questions just leave them here and i will check back.

      needless to say - have a bucketload of crazy glue in your preps. keep it stored in a cool, dark place and apparently it will last forever if not opened. we have a ton of the one-use crazy glue packs in our storage.

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