5 Months

Drill Here, Drill Now!

Drill..............Baby................Drill

Thanks to the direction of friends, and to the generosity of family (my folks, the Mrs.' parents and grandparents) drill replacement option #3 came to fruition yesterday afternoon. Thanks to all involved!

And it turned out even better than I had hoped. The new charger that came with the new drill seems to have resurrected the old dead battery. Now I've got two working drills and three working batteries.

P is for pumpkin

Drill, Baby, Drill!

No, this is not a political post. It is far more important...to me.

I went to my cave yesterday and realized that my sole remaining battery for my 12v Porter-Cable cordless drill had given up its ghost.

There are lots of things I could do:
1) Nothing. I have at least 5 other drills/drivers and 2 of those are cordless (this is somewhat embarrassing as I type it!)
2) Get a 12v DeWalt drill that would use the same batteries as the right-angle DeWalt drill I have. Then I'd have 4 batteries to interchange.
3) Get a new 12v Porter-Cable cordless drill, which comes with two batteries. I could then use the two batteries on my two drills.
4) Get a new single 12v battery (for about half what I could get a new drill with two batteries).

Just in typing this, the logical choice seems to be #1. I could go through the list of drills I have and explain to myself why a 12v cordless drill is really a very different tool...but I doubt I could convince you (unless maybe your name is Mike).

The thing is, I'm really attached to my 12v drill. I've often included it in the list of three things I'd take with me if the house were on fire. We've worked together on countless projects. It has scratches, paint, dirt, and probably even a bit of blood on it. I've dropped it, sworn at it, overworked it, misplaced it, and even left it out in some drizzle once. But it just kept on giving.

The Mrs. suggested that I just frame it and move on (we saw a framed purse a few weeks back at Eastern Market). But a tool is meant for action. I think it would prefer to be either revived for further action, or simply be unceremoniously thrown away.

I don't think I can do #1 and feel OK about it. (Drill here, drill now!) And I don't think I can deal with another DeWalt product in the cave (I can't even explain that one to myself). So that leaves #3 and #4.

Please don't get any thoughts about this being some sort of a birthday hint. No, this is the kind of thing that a man needs to deal with himself. But being comfortable with my masculinity, I have been known to stop and ask for directions. Anyone have any direction for me?

On the Road Again

Last weekend we ventured with P on a road trip. We left Friday to go to Cleveland and came home on Sunday. That is a quick road trip with a babe! But we did it to see the Mister's Family. Uncle Ed turned 75 and all the aunts and uncles and even some cousins came to see one another and celebrate. It was a lovely time! A time that we will remember and cherish. One conversation I had with Aunt Dorcas was about the fact that her and P share the same Saint's Day. I didn't know P even had a Saint's Day till Dorcas let us know that they shared that celebration day. Aunt D says she normally celebrates with a Manhattan or Jack Daniels, sounds good to me. I think P will start with something a little more mild, but I might celebrate for her with some spirits.

with Uncle Ed and Aunt D

The weekend before that we flew to Oklahoma City to celebrate the union of some dear friends. They are extra special to P since they have spent so much time with her. It was a special wedding to be a part of since the Mister preached the Homily. It was only the second time I have heard him preach, and it was good. He has a gift of speaking truth and encouragement in difficult and joyful situations. P had her first babysitter as well, and part of me loved it and the rest of me felt guilty. (This mother's guilt thing is real?!)

P and her favorite Bride and Groom

And the weekend before that we didn't travel anywhere, but we hosted friends and family for the celebration of P's baptism. This was a really beautiful thing that I don't even know how to describe or think about. It was a good thing. It was a day that I hope is lived out in her life. Until then, I hope that she will continue to be surrounded by our church family, our family, and our friends in a way that will encourage her to grow up in her faith.

She has been grafted in; a descendant of Abraham.

Now, we are home and thankful to not be on the road again for awhile.