Author Archives: ren
Paper Trevithick
Ukulele Number 6
My electric gas can uke. In my case it made more sense that it would be a can of blasting powder. Got it as a crowd-funded project that was so successful they had difficulty meeting the big demand and I waited for it a long time past due date, but it was worth it. One of the more unique ukuleles I have. It’s a bit of a challenge to play, so I don’t often, but fun to do.
Forgot My Cell Phone
Ah the digital life… if you can remember your phone. I suppose I’m actually a bit happy that I’m not so attached to my cell phone that I can’t forget it. Of course as I’m sitting here at Griddle and Grind without it and needing to make a phone call a tiny bit of me wishes I would be.
The cell phone is on that list of things in my life that despite its apps to locate now occupies too much time simply looking for it. When it’s lost it’s simply out of reach, not miles away so the apps don’t help. I even have a device on my keys to make it play a tune but the sound is still hard to locate and of course using it depends on my ability to locate my keys first. If I can’t find those I can use my phone to find them… oh that’s right. That’s what I’m looking for in the first place.
Is the keyboard mightier than the sword?
Perhaps it takes a fountain pen. At least a good gel pen or even a high quality pencil. The first for me is the weapon of choice though I admit a definite practicality of a keyboard. Hence my adoption of this blog as an exercise in creative writing. When updated via my iPad it gets worse with the onscreen keyboard I am reduced to a slow tapping of the keys with a finger or at most two.
Fountain pens demand attention. Left too long without use dries them out and makes them temperamental. I have too many to make this work. Some are destined to too little use. Writing more this way won’t help them.
Raspberry Pi Case
A Raspberry pi is a small computer board that works as good as many old pc desktops or better. Even better, they cost $35, operate on Linux (meaning lots of free, open-source programs), and come with lots of useful software ready to go. They DON’T come with a case, so you have to make your own. The oak case here is one I made for an old version of the pi, but still my favorite case.
Ukulele Number 5
Ukulele number 3 was meant to travel , at least that’s why I bought it. It wasn’t actually made for that. Then I discovered the Outdoor Ukulele that is designed to travel because it’s designed to withstand the bumps and temperature changes of travel. Welcome number 5. It is an “American made composite polycarbonate instrument developed for backpacking, camping, and traveling. They’ve been played in the Arctic Ocean, paddled down the Amazon River, and hiked both the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails.” MIne hasn’t gone that far, but it goes on just about any trip I make and played often at home as well, hanging conveniently on a curtain rod in the living room.
Ukulele Number 4
A friend showed me his banjolele, or should I say played it for me and I was hooked. Then I saw a picture of George Harrison playing one. What better way to learn a new instrument than to turn one you already know into one. I found the Luna Banjolele online and really liked the design. The clear head shows off a nice panel inside which I correctly surmised could easily be changed as well! I’m less happy with how it plays and have trouble keeping the strings from breaking and so don’t often play it. I solved that problem a different way as you’ll see in later posts. Still, I like how it looks and I want to like how heavy it is, but I don’t always.
Magical Mystery Tour Bethlehem
April Fool’s day came a day late when our Magical Mystery Tour plans were a bit altered, but not cancelled. Some outside stops, though listed here, where not made and the cemetery tour was a drive-through, although we were briefly convinced that the gate we had driven through was locked behind us.
- Benchwarmer’s Coffee, West Reading
- Hoover-Mason Trestle
- Visitor Center at Steel Stacks
- Millenium Folk Arch and Art Enclave – snow cancelled
- National Museum of Industrial History – our primary destination where we also witnessed the moving of a Linotype for a new exhibit there in May.
- Nisky Hill Cemetery – link shows a few interesting markers we found just driving around.
- Fegley’s Brew Works
- Moravian Book Shop
Magical Mystery Tour Lancaster County
On June 26 Craig, Duncan, and I traveled to the following locations to see the sites and some graves of my ancestors who lived in those areas.
- Beiler’s Donuts
- Boehm’s Chapel
- The Postcard Building
- Silver Mine Park
- Conestoga Area Historical Society
- Noah Wade, my Great, Great, Grandfather – Conestoga Methodist Cemetery
- Edwin Wade, my Great Grandfather – Conestoga Reformed Cemetery
- Conestoga Indian Town Marker
- Newcomer’s Corner
- Abraham K. Newcomer, my Great Great Grandfather – Habecker’s Mennonite
- Newcomer Homestead
- Martin Chartier Marker
- 40th Parallel Marker
- John Wright Restaurant
- Jim Mack’s Ice Cream
- Columbia Crossing River Trails Center
- Tollbooth Antiques, or some other shop nearby