Call Me Wednesday Addams
G and I have been together seventeen years this month. Nearly as I can remember, he’s never seen me cry. He might – maybe – have seen me get slightly misty-eyed once or twice. I can’t even swear to that.
A week ago, though, I freely admit to bawling like a baby. (It was after G was asleep, so my record remains intact.)
You see, my older daughter took videos of my grandson’s first school concert and shared them with me. My grandson was playing saxophone…
…The grandson who didn’t learn to talk until he was five years old, who was diagnosed on the lower-functioning end of the autistic spectrum. While his voice still doesn’t convey much inflection, at age 12 he’s got a near-normal vocabulary, is in a normal classroom, and gets straight A’s on his report card. When he was five, we weren’t sure how far he’d progress, or if he’d ever progress. To know he’s living a relatively normal kid life; is an active member of a baseball team; and is playing an instrument – those are miracles in my world. For him, I’ll sob like a B-movie actress chewing the scenery, zero apology or regrets.
Eureka?
Only about one of seven business ideas takes off. As many things as we’ve tried, I figure we’re overdue.
My daughter conceived a product we know will sell. It’s my responsibility to build a prototype, patent it, and find a manufacturer. Ironically, I know how to patent and have a fair idea about tracking down a manufacturer.
There’s a semi-related product on the market now. It sells for a small fortune and is strictly for home use. It wouldn’t function in institutional surroundings, which is where it’s desperately needed – and did I mention it’s prohibitively expensive, especially for what it is? We’re talking a figure north of 300 bucks. I know we can build a premium version for at least $100 less, including a generous profit margin. (I believe we can do a retail around $149-199 without breaking a sweat.) Unfortunately, our original plans ground to a halt when G said he coudn’t build a prototype, since it would entail metalwork and welding. Carpentry, yes. Metal work, no.
I can design it.
I can’t build it.
Aaaaaand then, few nights ago, my brain kick-started again. I realized the toughest part to fabricate already exists. A good quality microphone stand, one with a boom arm and sturdy/weighted base, will do everything we need. The piece it would need to hold doesn’t weigh as much as a good quality mic.
If I take the stand out of the equation, I can absolutely build a prototype of a tool-specific bracket, using a 3D printer. I might even be able to take it a step further and build the whole thing instead of only a bracket. The mechanical part is about as simple as it gets.
So… I have to bite the bullet and drop $$ on a 3D printer. I’ll also need to buy a mic stand, which I can no doubt pick up in Phoenix or Tucson. Then I have to sit my fat butt down and DO it.
House porn!
This home is obviously not on our short list (hello, stairs); but the kitchen is HUGE. The exterior isn’t half bad either – I prefer it to the Georgian estate I posted a few days ago.
It also sits on half an acre, with a forest surrounding it.
The above is the street view from Google Maps. It’s a little distorted – but you get the idea. Lots of trees, manicured grounds, lots of space.
Just so you know, I wasn’t kidding about the kitchen. The amount of storage I see here is jaw-dropping. It’s outdated, but I could deal with outdated if it hits all the functional marks.
She’s got a lot of original charm intact through other areas of the house, too.
I do love me a Craftsman build.
She’s five bedrooms, two baths, 3200sf, and the asking is $172,500. Don’t think it’s not tempting, stairs and all.
The listing info is here, if you want more info.
Horsing Around
While photo ops have been sparse lately, last weekend we had to make a short(ish) drive, and took the cameras. Whilst out, we had the good fortune to stumble across an off-off-off-off circuit rodeo.
I was relegated to taking shots from the car window. My mobility lately has tanked, and it was no great shakes before. I didn’t get a lot of great photos, but hey – below is one of the few action shots I’ve captured.
He may not be technically perfect. I still like him.
This duo was waiting their turn when I captured them.
A little further down the road:
I’ve been looking for an excuse to go capture one of these train trestles. They’re along the highway but getting to them – at least, close enough to get a photo – is a pain in the ass. On the other side, by the way, is Poston Butte Monument Park. The park involves a smallish (mountain? hill?) crowned by a pyramid monument, marking the burial of Charles Poston, aka “The Father of Arizona” for his part in arguing for creation of Arizona Territory in the 19th century. Parking is next to this bridge, then hike the 1/2 mile or so to the monument.
Oh yeah – Merry Christmas and whatever other holiday you like. I worked all day and while it was thankfully uber-quiet today, I’m dragging my butt tonight.
First?! Heh.
I cry at the drop of…anything. That? Would have me a mess for days.
Would looove a Craftsman, but while there are bargains here they ain’t purty.
And the pics are sweet. I actually did better with a camera than I do a phone; some days think I should find one.
As for the invention…GO. DO THE THING. Don’t wait. I have faith in you. As does the Universe.
There’s a long and extremely ugly story behind why I don’t cry. I’ve never told anyone the whole thing, not even family, and probably never will. But I’m so happy for my grandson, it trumped everything else.
There are a lot of Craftsman properties in the area where we’re looking, in all conditions. A little work doesn’t scare us: paint, flooring, minor wiring/plumbing repairs, replacing a window or two. If the price is right, I’d even be fine with putting on a roof and/or replacing HVAC. We draw the line at locations in a flood zone, a complete repipe, a near-complete rebuild (such as if mold inhabits every square inch), major structural failures, etc.
I can’t take pictures worth crap with my phone. With a camera I can perch it on something to steady it – a tripod, a pool noodle split and over my car window, et al. If I have to try and hold steady – not gonna happen, lol.
I don’t blame you for crying. I’ve heard kids playing sax, too. 😉
Hey, I like your pics! As usual, your sense of composition is exceptional. Loved the horse butt especially, and for more than fetish reasons this time. It’s just a great picture, captured at the perfect moment. Well done, all of them! (BTW, NewWifey(tm) got me TWO new lenses for Christmas with the unexpected profits she made this year from her home biz. Woot woot!! One’s a 200-500mm f/5.6 that weighs a freakin’ TON, but I’m gonna be able to spy on my neighbors 17 houses away now. Can’t wait!)
Oh man, that house! That house! Love the kitchen of course, dated cabinets and all, but the entire package looks great. And again, I can’t believe the prices compared to what they rape you for out here by me. Wow. Of course, I’m guessing that house is under several thousand cubic yards of snow as I write this, so there is that to consider….
Good luck if you decide to build that un-named must-have product!
Oooh a 200-500 lens should get some magnificent shots for you. The hernia is a feature, right? I assume you have a tripod though – once you go over 300mm, a mosquito fart on the wind will mess with your focus.
From what my son says, they have a couple of inches of snow, nothing like the Snowmageddon covering New York and vicinity. Though Primghar, where that house is located, is up nearer the Minnesota border, so I can’t swear to conditions there. (My son lives around 30 miles from the Missouri border.)
That house is gorgeous, isn’t it? It’s exactly my style. The kitchen, though… oh man….
You forget what a real Manly Man you’re talking to here. Yes I have a tripod, but no I haven’t used that lens on it yet. The tests shots I’ve done so far have been all hand held, and get this: the VR on that thing gives FOUR AND A HALF STOPS of protection. So even though the field of view is only 8-degrees at 500mm, I can hand-hold at 1/30th sec and keep things tack sharp. A blue whale could explode on the beach next to me while I’m doing a shoot, and those flying seagulls will still look like they’re frozen in mid-air! I’ll send you a pic or two later.
Oh man, you’re not kidding about Snowmageddon in NY. I had to do a story on Christmas about the fact that at one point every single fire truck in the city was stuck in the snow, along with 8 ambulences. All their big hook and ladder trucks, immobilized! I’m surprised more people didn’t die.
I figured you meant Buffalo. I’ve been following on the AP site. Unfortunately looks like they’re about to get another round, too. 🙁
Though I was just reading – said the most they received was four feet. While that’s not nothing, several years ago when I was living in Payson, we got four feet of snow in one storm. Nobody died. Nobody tried driving in it except my idiot boss, who picked me up in his Jeep and drove me in to the station. I had to go on the air and report that it was snowy out. Because, you know, normal people couldn’t tell.
Ah yes… radio is a crazy business.
Whoops – forgot to mention WHICH city: Buffalo. Makes a difference (although NYC got hammered too – just not nearly as much).
What a very special gift you received regarding your grandson. That is truely amazing and worthy of many tears.
As for the house, I love it. And thanks again for the wonderful photos.
Thank you, Terri. The recordings of my grandson were the best Christmas gift I could possibly have received.
And oh man… that house is gorgeous, isn’t it??