Tag: sabbatical

One of the tools I need for building the flagpole is a plate joiner. This is a tool that cuts slots in wood that you fill with a little wooden piece called a biscuit. It’s a neat item that I’ve seen used before, but I’ve never owned one.

I ordered one from Amazon with a bit of bonus money from work and it arrived. I wanted to get working with it, but life got in the way, so it was a few days before I could get to it. My plan was to work with it today, maybe building a few simple drawers that I’ll use in the garage.

I haven’t read the manual, after all, who does that? However while I applied a bit of ice to my knee, I decided to watch a bit of YouTube to get some ideas and hints on how to use the tool. I think learning how to gain some skill has been one of the most amazing things from YouTube for me.

In any case, I watched a basic Plate Joiner video, then a Tips and Tricks video.

Then it was time to practice. First I unpacked the tool. I spent a few minutes checking out the manual to be sure I knew where the knobs where.

I grabbed two boards, thinking I’d make the right angle jog I saw in one of the videos. I lined them up and used a corner brace to put lines on both boards.

Once that was done, I used the sand paper trick to raise the tool slightly and cut three slots.

Not really a bit deal, but I was somewhat excited.

Once that was done, I cut the other board and then put the biscuits in.

The test fit looked good, things lining up. One biscuit was a little thick, so I sandpapered it with 3 or 4 strokes and then it was fine.

I added glue and then used my tool to actually apply a little weight as I moved on to another project.

Here are some thoughts on my flagpole project. This is how I see the project going.

To start, I know there are a few things I need to get done:

• Clean out stones and set new base
• Build base
• build sawhorses to hold pole
• buy raw materials
• measure space to work
• build flagpole
• finish (paint) flagpole
• order metal supplies for the flag
• get new flag

That’s the rough list of things, but obviously this doesn’t really give me the plan or order of things. Realistically, I’m looking at something more like this:

• measure space to work
• build sawhorses to hold pole
• buy raw materials
• build flagpole
• Build base
• Clean out stones and set new base
• order metal supplies for the flag
• finish (paint) flagpole
• get new flag

This is a more likely order, though I can do some things like ordering parts while I’m doing others. I’ll also fit the base cleaning time in the middle of the building.

How about timing?

Obviously I need to lay out some times here. I’ve allotted myself 6 weeks to do all this, though I may end up with some prep ahead of time.

• measure space to work – 1 day, May
• build sawhorses to hold pole – 2 days – May
• buy raw materials – 1 day – May
• build flagpole – June, 2 weeks
• Build base – June 1 – week
• Clean out stones and set new base – 1 week, June
• order metal supplies for the flag
• finish (paint) flagpole – 1 week – July
• get new flag

That’s the rough plan. I’ll prep the last few weekends in May, getting sawhorses ready and things laid out in the front yard. I’ll also get the raw materials ready, I think. That could wait until June 1 or 2, but we’ll see. I may stage things a bit.

I do also need to order more clamps, after watching the show. It’s also an excuse for me to get a plate joiner, but I’ll do that and get biscuits. I’ve been wanting to try that for a long time.

That’s a rough plan, enough to get me started, though I’m sure I’ll need to rough out more details over time.

For now, I’m looking to get some materials to build these: Knockdown Sawhorses

My employer, Red Gate Software, offers a sabbatical to their employees, and this year I’m taking mine. I’ll be gone from June 2 – July 14, away from work, but I’ll be blogging here about my experience.

A few years ago I was on vacation with my wife and a few other couples. One night at dinner, one of the other couples posed this question: what would you do if you won the lottery and never had to work again?

There were various answers from the people at the table. When my turn came, the first thing that came to my mind was working full time for Habitat for Humanity. I’d consider other charities, but the things that speak to me are food, shelter, and education.

One of my sabbatical decisions was the volunteer for Habitat of Denver, and I began that journey by attending a volunteer orientation and filling out paperwork. In a few days my name should be in their database and I’ll be able to start signing up for shirts at builds and the ReStores that Habitat runs. I’m looking forward to getting a few shifts a week at their stores, and I’m hoping I can help them fulfill their mission.

I do believe strongly that we all should volunteer and give back to society in our lives It’s at a time and place of your choosing, when it works for you. You might have done it in the past, you might do it now, or maybe it will be something that you do when you retire from technology, but I hope you consider sharing of yourself and helping the world at some point.

However choose those things that speak to you. Things that mean something to you and which will benefit others.

I did my first volunteer sign ups with Habitat for Humanity today. After completing the orientation, I was waiting for an email that confirmed I had been entered in their system, but since it’s been a week, I decided to just go ahead and start signing up.

ReStore

The ReStores in Denver are where old, reclaimed, and donated building supplies are for sale. There are actually three stores in Denver, and I decided to sign up for one to get started.

June 2, first day off, is my first day of work. I actually picked a second day the next week, and I’ll try to do at least one a week moving forward after that.

Construction

One of the main things I’ve always heard about with Habitat is their builds of new housing. I had been looking forward to this, but coming off knee surgery, I was a little worried when I’d be able to start. However with the knee doing well, some outside chores this weekend, I think I’m ready to go.

Well, not now, but in a few weeks. I volunteered for my first shift on Jun 12. There aren’t a lot of builds going on in Denver right now, but I’ll keep my eyes open and hopefully I’ll get involved in a few more.