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Mx. Coreo Jones ([personal profile] digitalemur) wrote2009-04-19 06:56 pm
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Yet another thing about adulthood

Yesterday I bought a reciprocating saw and a random orbit sander.

They just sold them to me. Gift card money, in fact.

I am amazed that they'll just let me out of the store with powerful electrical tools like that. Shouldn't I have to take a class? Get a permit?

It was scary to stand in front of all the miter saws and realize that I can buy one of _those_ whenever I want, too. I'm not ready for that sort of responsibility! (And also, I really hate circular saw noise even more than other power tool noise. As it is I need earplugs for things that do not bother typical human beings.)

I dunno, guys, I'm not really a grownup yet, I dunno why they're letting me buy a house and power tools and shit!

ETA: OMG I NEED A SHOPVAC!
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[identity profile] jeditigger.livejournal.com 2009-04-19 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Power tools scare the crap out of me.

[identity profile] marginaleye.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
OMG I NEED A SHOPVAC!

You know, sawdust makes excellent "brown" (i.e. carbon-rich, nitrogen-poor) material for composting (as long as it's not from pressure-treated lumber, which is full of pesticides and toxic metal compounds).

[identity profile] meepodeekin.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
I don't see how fear of power tools has to do with being not grown up. I like all 10 of my fingers just where they are. For me personally, having a Dex of 7 or 8 makes some things just plain Bad Ideas (tm).

[identity profile] emilymorgan.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
I have that feeling when I go to the hardware store and buy, like, wood glue.

What projects are you working on?

[identity profile] digitalemur.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
Various people have pointed out that this is a _healthy_ fear, but ya know, I need to manage it enough to install the cat flap in the stairwell/basement door, because I'm tired of the whole house smelling like basement in order for Oz to get to his box.

[identity profile] digitalemur.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
It does? YAY!

And yeah, pressure treated lumber has scary shit in it, mom always made us wash our hands after playing anywhere it was used.

[identity profile] digitalemur.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
I have pretty good manual dex, though less with whole-body activities, so I should be able to turn my fear into reasonable caution.

[identity profile] digitalemur.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Just now I put a new push-button locking doorknob on the basement/garage door. I also put vinyl weatherstripping on the bottom of the door.

Tomorrow: cat flap on the stairwell/basement door, so that the rest of the house can stop smelling like the basement and the catbox, but Oz can still get to the box with the door closed. THAT is going to involve cutting wood. I can't wait! I even set my cordless drill to charging!

Ongoing project: digging up the mostly-buried path of slate pavers that goes from my front door around the south side of the house to the back door. The damn things are hazardous where they are, and I want to use them for a patio or something.

[identity profile] marginaleye.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, sawdust is, indeed, excellent for composting.

Even extreme composting (http://marginaleye.livejournal.com/39269.html).

[identity profile] mrfantasy.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Besides pressure treated lumber, also be careful if what you sawed had lead paint on it.

[identity profile] jeditigger.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I applaud you and when John and I get a house, I'll be getting us a shop.

They still scare me.

YOU ARE SUCH AN ADULT!

[identity profile] liddle-oldman.livejournal.com 2009-04-20 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I think it was Dave Barry who wrote that, holding some major power tool, he kept thinking "Shouldn't an adult be doing this?"
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