d_thomas02 Member

I've seen clips from FiF but never seen a full episode. Keep in mind FiF is an entertainment show, not a how to. Lot of stuff goes on behind the scenes that are just not TV worthy. Other stuff that is very dramatic, is not good blacksmithing. Lot of guys use propane forges in the garage with no issues, keeping the door…

So, what real discussions did you have in mind? Not much into sports myself, but I have started blacksmithing as a hobby.

I'm still here. Had a knee replacement operation late last year and stopped my daily solo postings here. Knee is back in working condition so bring it on.

You and me both, brother. When I see word to the effect 'X has been shown to be better than its counterparts', I always ask two questions. 1) Who has shown... ? and 2) Who paid for the study?

Never underestimate the power of the placebo effect. If your friend really believed that eating organic vs. regular produce would have the effect he mentioned, he probably was more satiated. Money well spent in his case would be money wasted in mine.

The very valid subject of avoiding pesticides in our foods is still on my mind, but I was looking for information from a more grounded source. Found this article from Popular Science on How to Actually Remove Pesticides From Your Fruit I thought I'd share. I thought it an interesting read.

Personally, I don't choose to spend the money on "organic" products, but have no objections if others choose to. What caught my attention was the use of 'trigger' words in the chart's text. I actual wrote a rant. I had the same reaction once in a discussion on water softeners, so it's not "buy organic" that triggered the…

Had plans to get back into the smithy today, but working 11 hour plus days with a nasty cough and head cold this last week have changed my mind. It's the Lazy-Boy for me today.

Years ago my wife talked me into joining her in a few Jazzercise classes. I did and was just starting to get comfortable with the moves when I aggravated my right knee. She went on to become an instructor a few years later while I took up martial arts (because that's so much better on the knees, right? [eye-roll]). She…

Absolutely beautiful photos! Guess I'm paying for my good luck on the Cozumel diving trip. One of the hazards of the job, dog bites. Second job Tuesday (a wonderful Spring day) was a first mow for a client I've mowed for the last four years. They have a medium sized dog of mixed breed that is a bit nuts. Rushes the mowers,…

But of course! Looking forward to seeing your outdoor activities.

Notes from my SCUBA trip to Cozumel, Mexico, Feb. 2019. --- My Fitbit Charge HR 3 which is advertised as water resistant to 50 meters (150 ft) is not happy with me. Did a shallow checkout dive Sunday, the day I arrived in Cosumel, with no issues. It recorded heatrate etc. I do wear a neoprene wrist brace over the tracker…

I was asked on another group what my favorite dive was during my recent SCUBA trip to Cozumel Mexico. Here is my response. --- While all seventeen dives were great, my favorite was a shallow 40 ft. dive at a location called Paraiso Reef (Paradise Reef in English). White sandy bottom with mounds of coral here and there, and…

Another funny thing happened today. Went to the big box electronics store where I bought my Fitbit to see about a replacement. Guy I talked to said that a lot of the HR3s were having issues with the display going black just like mine had, but since I was past the return with no questions date (30 days? 60 days? I didn't…

Funny thing happened after the first leg of my flight back to the states. Arrived in Atlanta, made it through customs and still had time to get something to eat before starting my second leg. Logged my meal and noticed I had additional calories due to exercise. What?!? My Fitbit linked once I had turned airplane mode off.…

Finished our last two dives yesterday morning and then went into town last night and painted the town a light pink. Lot of walking from bar to bar. Then stopped in a restaurant a bit off the beaten path for supper before wondering back to the resort around 11 pm. Flight leaves for the states at 2:30pm local time today.…

My Fitbit Charge HR 3 which is advertised as water resistant to 50 meters (150 ft) is not happy with me. Did a shallow checkout dive the day I arrived in Cosumel with no issues. Recorded heatrate etc. I do wear a neoprene wrist brace over the tracker to protect it from knocks and transient high pressures from swimming.…

Arrived at Cozumel today. 159 active minutes between all the airport jogging and one dive under my belt right after we arrived. So worth the travel hassle.

Both are beautiful! My understanding is that purpleheart dust is an irritant and a sensitizer. Kirk, I'm sure you know this. I'm throwing this out for others. This is not a wood for beginners. By the by, is it bad that with my current hobby I focused on the blade first? Is there a story behind it?

Yup, I also lost 60 lbs at age 50. Still working on how to maintain.

My wife went to a baby shower today for our niece (it'll be her second kid) and sent me this photo of something that I made for our niece's wedding way before I got into blacksmithing. I cut the rings and small branch (used for the spacers between the rings) from an oak tree on my father-in-law's property. I cut over a…

My previous daily driver was a '94 Toyota truck (what became the Tacoma) that I bought new (my first new new vehicle) in early '95. It was also not quite what I was looking for as it was a dark blue rather than my preferred bright blue. Had 1 mile on the odometer. Retired late last year with a blown head gasket or cracked…

Finaly bought a new (to me) daily driver. Not quite what I was looking for but as close as I could get for reasonable money. What I wanted; 6 cylinder, manual, 4x4, extended cab, in a bright blue. (This one is a 4 cylinder, automatic) What I got. 2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, 86k miles. Obviously black and also an…

So sorry to hear about your trials. I hope it turns around for you soon. Knee pain is nothing to fool around with.

Was told today was my last physical therapy session for my right knee. My range of motion currently meassures 0-127 degrees. Still have another 12-18 months of healing before total recovery, so plan on continuing the stretches at home. Goal is to match my left knee's 140 degree... eventually. Gotta give the scar tissue…

Did DiveQuest at Disney's Epcot center a little over a decade ago. 5.7 million gallon saltwater aquarium, 130 foot in diameter and I forget exactly how deep, something like 20-25 foot. Even had a big sand tiger shark. I can see the appeal of being a volunteer diver for a large aquarium. Not many aquariums that size in the…

My son and I put this YouTube video together yesterday. Corn Fueled Blacksmith's Coal Forge We have another one in editing about making my brake rotor blacksmith forge.

I'm hoping for at least five dives a day for five straight days. Maybe a night dive or two on top of that.

The weatherman mentioned that half a degree either way could push the freeze line 20 miles in any direction. We were half a degree higher than predicted so all the ice melted off and no snow overnight. Temperatures are now below freezing this morning but ground and above ground objects are clear here. Nothing but a few…

Not really anything to do with exercise (yet) but woke up to this... with more of the same this morning, changing to snow after lunch. At least its not sticking to the ground... yet. Sure making me look forward to that Cozumel Scuba Trip late next month. (And there is the link to outside exercise.)