I am
a fairly patient person, in fact I have often joked perhaps the most
poignant lesson at spinal cord injury has bequeathed me is patients.
As a person who is quadriplegic I have spent the last 40 years rely
on other people to do things for me I cannot do for myself. I am
blessed that a majority of the needs I have had I have been able to
satisfy independently. This is no small thought for a person with
limited hand function and no ability to stand our walk. But still
there are things that I could not do myself most specific is moving
stuff around, stuff that ends up in my computer room our stuff that
ends up in my garage which is the same as my workshop. As any of you
readers know I do try to work with wood. I love working with wood
even though my skills are significantly limited. I can make sticks I
love to make sticks, and sticks as you know, I used to cancel
low-tech assistive technology or a grabber. And let's just say that I
have needed my garage to bring these projects to pass but the last
couple years the garage has been filled with all kinds of stuff.
This
summer, with my conclusion of my one day a week volunteering at 211
has really been my first summer of retirement. If I had access to my
wood shop I believe I would've spent a lot of time in that shop
working on hooks. That alas did not happen but I can tell you now
that it is about to happen. Even if I don't get access to my whole
garage I have decided to clean off one part of my work bench so I can
at least access my vices and some of my woodworking tools. I also
plan to set up my Workmate outside
of the garage and work with but would out there if and when the
weather permits. I've taken a stand that I will no longer let
anything stand in the way of my sticks.
Mark
Anthony came over a couple weeks ago at my bidding and was able to
give me a couple hours of time to help organize the garage and my
workbench. We did not get as much done as I would've liked but we did
clean off the end of the workbench, and Mark Anthony also was able to
get me down a couple of pieces of Longwood that I used to cut into
sticks. This is enough to get me going. Earlier this week I also was
able to get my table saw out of the back of the garage and to a point
where it may be usable. The tablesaw is a small Sears 10 inch saw
that I keep in a wheelbarrow. The setup is low to the ground but
fairly stable and I've been fairly safe over the years using this saw
to rip wood. This setup is not safe I am the first to admit that
however it's all that I've got right now. Now this may change as
well. Dianne has always been concerned after my safety with the use
of my Sears saw. She is encouraged me to upgrade my saw but I have
been dragging my feet. I have done some searching online and found a
beautiful contractors 10 inch saw by Porter Cole sold at Lowe's. The
cost $299! This is overkill for what I need better be so nice to have
a saw system it's easy to move and safe to use. Dianne says I need
this I can't say that I need this but I can't say I would like this
and maybe I deserve this at this point in my life.
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