Retired 02/2008. Taken up woodworking as a hobby. Absolute novice.
Learning as I go and finding out that wood is a very unstable material and unpredictable - just like my wife who thinks you can take any piece of wood and "voila" in 10 seconds you can have something Chippendale would have made! Oh by the way I am really a Brit who has been stranded is Texas for nearly 40 years, married to a small town Texas gal who is the custodian of her family's sacred bean recipe.
I have an interesting life.
Updated 8/3/2010:
I have had many get well messages, some PM's and some from Grizz's posts - thanks Grizz. ALL LJ's are my friends, yes ALL . As you might know I don't know very much about woodworking but tackle it to make life worth living. Most of you don't know my medical problems of late so I will give you an overview: I have had prostate cancer for nearly 3 years and have to change meds when current ones become ineffective. February I broke my ankle and could no have surgery because of my meds. Finally they did surgery and put a plate and 10 screws in my ankle. It was 3 months not being able to walk, just sit with my leg elevated. Just as my ankle healed, they did a ct scan to see if the cancer was spreading and came back with another surprise - I had an Aneurysm and Gall Stones. Surgery was scheduled but 3 days before I was taken to the ER because I could not move my legs or upper arms. They diagnosed me with Acute renal failure (ARF) - Kidney failures and Rhabdomyolysis - (rapid breakdown (lysis) of skeletal muscle (rhabdomyo) due to injury to muscle tissue). Ie Degeneration of the muscles and tissue going through the kidneys. I was under intense treatment to prevent kidney failure and was released last weekend. The problem was caused by medication conflicts. When I get well enough they will do they Aneurysm surgery and I'll be laid up again.
So basically I just can't seem to get fit enough to go to the shop - my little bliss world. LJ's that have known about my problems have been super friends, calls, messages an insults (lol) which my wacky sense of humor loves. My humor is not everyone's taste - sometimes it's pretty tasteless !!! - but you all know I am just having fun.
There is one particular LJ who has become the best friend I have ever known, he emails me, video calls me and kicks my butt, and does everything to help me get through bad times. There is no way I will ever meet him in person, he lives in another part of this world, but it feels like he is around all the time - pushing me for my own good. I have nominated him for the next Pope.
My little signature message has changed and those of you who know where that song cam from will understand a lot about me.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
Update February 2011:
In 2010 since my last update I had the anurisym surgery, a lung biopsy and an IV port attached to my chest. 2010 was a bad year for me where I spent all my time recovery from one thing or another, just totally immobilized and able to do nothing. I did however manage to get to sleep in my own bed upstairs late November after 10 months of not being able to make it up the stairs.
Now that the IV port insert wound has healed I will start chemotherapy sessions later in February and see how that goes.
I am felling much better and stronger now with much less side effects from the other medications I am taking and have actually made it to the workshop for a few hours. When this cold snap is over I think I am fit enough to do some limited stuff in the shop - that will be so good.
Update September 2011:
The previous update may have been wishful thinking, I have been in hospital 3 times since with a hospital virus via my meds. The good news is that for the last few days I have made it to the shop and have been "playing around" some. I am feeling much better now and my chemotherapy is not making me ill anymore, so I'm making a start on all those projects I dreamed of making while I was "out of it". I'll have something to show soon.
Update December 2011:
Well, the latest scans and tests show that the clinical trial I was on has ceased working, so now I am in limbo waiting to find out what we try next. My oncologist wanted me to go on a new medication costing over 90 grand - you gotta be joking, I live off of my SS check.!!!!
It looks like they will start me on some chemo that kills white blood cells and has a butt load of nasty side effects and leaves you open to catching all sorts of deceases. Gotta keep trying though.
Update July 2012:
Well, I have been on another type of chemotherapy since the beginning of the year and have it every 21 days. The only problem is that the side effects are pretty debilitating for about 10 days after the infusion, so I have a very short period when I can get to the shop. As I have more treatments, the side effects get more intense and last longer and I am in that situation right now, with the effects lasting for 14 days now.
You would be amazed at how many different side effects there are that seems unrelated to cancer treatment.
Got many, many projects in my head, now I need a body that will make them. lol
-- Roger-R, Republic of Texas. "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" - An eyeball to eyeball confrontation with a blind person is as complete waste of Time.
61 comments so far
rikkor
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11295 posts in 4846 days
#1 posted 12-30-2008 12:41 PM
Welcome to LJ. You will like it here.
Todd Thomas
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4969 posts in 4420 days
#2 posted 12-30-2008 12:54 PM
Welcome to LumberJocks….It will be a great resource for you and your projects. There are a bunch of great people here willing to help……have fun….Looking forward to your projects and posts….. WARNING: Visiting LumberJocks has proven to be addictive
-- Todd, Oak Ridge, TN, Hello my name is Todd and I'm a Toolholic, I bought my last tool 10 days, no 4 days, oh heck I bought a tool on the way here! †
Scott Bryan
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27249 posts in 4794 days
#3 posted 12-30-2008 01:49 PM
Hello Roger,
Let me welcome to LJs. I am sure that you will find this to be a rewarding and enriching part of your woodworking journey.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
trifern
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8135 posts in 4739 days
#4 posted 12-30-2008 03:19 PM
Welcome to LJ’s.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Max
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56000 posts in 5245 days
#5 posted 12-30-2008 05:35 PM
Glad to see that you have made Lumberjocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Todd A. Clippinger
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8901 posts in 5071 days
#6 posted 12-30-2008 07:07 PM
Welcome to LumberJocks – The best woodworking community anywhere!
I look forward to seeing your posts and projects.
Share the Love ~ Share the Knowledge
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com
TedM
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2002 posts in 4704 days
#7 posted 12-31-2008 12:06 AM
Welcome to Lumberjocks! It’s a great place with great people, and, oh yeah, there’s the woodworking too! Have fun and play safe! :)
btw – Like to hear more about that bean recipe!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - Please visit http://www.woodworkersguide.com and sign up for my project updates!
Grumpy
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26793 posts in 4823 days
#8 posted 12-31-2008 02:05 AM
Welcome to Lumberjocks Roger. This is a great community of people with like interests.There is much to learn here & you will have the opportunity to share your skills & ideas with others. I hope you enjoy LJ’s as much as I do.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
woodworm
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14477 posts in 4562 days
#9 posted 12-31-2008 04:28 AM
Welcome to Lumberjocks!
Take care and work safely.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
HallTree
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5666 posts in 4739 days
#10 posted 12-31-2008 07:36 PM
Welcome Roger. You have found the right place for woodworking. A great group of people willing to help. Looking forward to see your projects and comments. Work safe in the shop and don’t forget to use pushsticks.
-- "Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life" Solomon
ND2ELK
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13494 posts in 4746 days
#11 posted 12-31-2008 11:40 PM
Welcome to Lumberjocks. The projects are an inspiration, the information is priceless and the people are supportive. The only problem is, the site can get addictive.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Don2Laughs
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84 posts in 4405 days
#12 posted 01-01-2009 12:03 AM
Hey Roger! I just joined LJ today, too. And….I grew up on the Bosque River Ranch which is about halfway between Valley Mills and China Springs. That is a wonderful part of the world and I often wish I were there.
Welcome and I hope to see more of you & your woodworking/shop/etc.
good luck
-- Don in Mountain City. Texas
Callum Kendall
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1918 posts in 4675 days
#13 posted 01-01-2009 07:40 PM
Welcome to LJs
Callum
-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/
Karson
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35269 posts in 5372 days
#14 posted 01-01-2009 10:19 PM
Welcome to LumberJocks. Glad to have you aboard. †
Any chance your wife wants to spread around the family bean recipe?
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
DocK16
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1198 posts in 5059 days
#15 posted 09-08-2009 02:18 AM
Welcome to LJs love your Icon.
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