Music to my ears...

   Ah yes power tools.  I didn’t know the difference between a table saw and a screw driver when Jo and I got married.  When we moved to Wyoming I slowly started to accumulate power tools and woodworking stuff.  I will admit at first most of the stuff I made ended up looking like it belonged in the Little Rascals club house. When Jo started playing WOW I began spending more and more time in the garage coming up with things to build and reasons to buy more tools.  It was relaxing for me.  I looked at my talented wife who can sing like nobody's business, play the guitar like a pro, and do a hundred other creative things.  Me all I knew was firefighting. I lived, breathed,  and was firefighting.  Once I started woodworking I found something I could do that I felt was mine.

   So over the years I have come to enjoy doing things with my hands (to the surprise of my wife I did not lose a hand or any fingers in a power tool accident)  To this day I love the feel of walking into the Home Depot and browsing the thousands of tools I probably don’t need.  The things that run through my mind are like a movie. I see the stacks of lumber and think man I could make some new shelves, a table, fix the wood trim in the living room. I know Jonette really does dread the calls from me while im at the hardware store begging her to let me  buy this saw or that sander.  She usually does give in to my requests ( or as she calls it whining).  So for all the "no baby it looks good", "Ok go get the stuff you want at the hardware store",  I thank you Jo.  You have let me pursue a hobby that has cost thousands of dollars.  While allowing me to do so you have let me enter that little world of mine where the saw dust fly's and the sound of the finish nailer is music to my ears.

  There is a reason I am making this post.  Here in Iraq we do not have the luxury of running down to the wal-mart to pick up lawn furniture or the put together computer desks.  When I arrived I was happy to see a tool room full of the stuff dreams are made of. Dewalt, craftsman and an variety of other very nice tools.  Along with these tools is the endless need for chairs, tables,and many other projects.  I have made a lot of really cool stuff in the few weeks I have been here. And yes to my amazement they have turned out very nice.  I even got a commanders coin from our squadron commander for making him a set of patio chairs.  So Jonette  for allowing me to be myself I say thank you.