(no subject)

Among other things wooisme and I picked up at a barn sale today was a vintage brace and bit. I've been thinking a lot about actively using less energy in my everday life; trying to to do more with good old fashioned human-power. Too, a few of the history-laden hand tools there called out to me. In fact, Andrea and I both looked a battered old toolbox as she remarked "Imagine the stories that thing could tell." I won't even begin about the collection of vintage soldering irons they had...

Anyway, along with the new drill, we also ended up with two new bookcases. Since one of them was coming apart at one corner, I decided to to a quick repair job on it before hauling it upstairs to the library. However, a quick search failed to locate my cordless power drill. After thinking about it for a bit, the other cordless drill, that I had almost forgotten about, came to mind.

Soon enough, I was working away with my new hand tool, drilling pilot holes and sinking screws. To my surprise, not only was working with the brace and bit easier than I expected (I was worred that I would have trouble centering a hole or keeping it straight, but there was little trouble) I really felt like I could do a better job with it too. I felt much more directly connected to the workpiece. The difference in feel between it and a power drill was almost like the difference between feeling an object bare-handed or with gloves on. It was a really neat experience. I wonder how much better it would be for everyone to learn to work with hand-tools before moving on to power tools. Even as just a learning experience, I think it would give people a much better intuitive sense of the work they're doing.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow. Bleah. At least I have an interesting book to keep me company at lunch. If I decide I have time for lunch. My next level up guy is going to be out for the week starting Tuesday, and I'm going to have a lot to do...