Jigsaw Puzzles, Cantilevers and Only One Jackass

A couple of months ago I bought a jigsaw puzzle. How about that? I just had a glimmer of enlightenment. I just realized why they are called jigsaw puzzles. The first ones were cut out with a jigsaw.

Anyway, I found this puzzle in a pile behind a local business covered (the pile of stuff not the business) with kudzu. If there are two things I have trouble resisting they are a challenge and buying something that may be good but can’t be identified due to various reasons. According to the previous owner it was one of those large metal framed buildings and from the bits and pieces showing it could have been.

This was and is a multiple step project. First I paid for the “kit.” Then since kudzu is one of the few living things I have a grudge against I had to kill it. I spent several weeks spraying it and watching it die.

Finally when I was certain I wasn’t transplanting kudzu to the Home Ranch I had the kit loaded on several trailers which are now patiently waiting for me to clear a lot, dig some footings and figure out how to put it together. Since the shortest piece is 20 feet long and weighs 500 pounds I think it is going to be a lot of fun.

Lately I’ve been sort of sidetracked with another project that I’m not allowed to talk about. This one is challenging most of my ability-what little I have. I’ve always lived by several rules. And just to keep the record straight I am talking about MY rules, not those thousands of rules that petty bureaucrats like to impose on real people who are living real lives. Those rules were created to be ignored.

I’m still working on trying to keep the “Big Ten” and don’t have the time or energy to worry about the rest.

After the “Big Ten” my number eleven is “impossible just means difficult.” Twelve is “just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be and even if it can’t be done it can still be fun to try.” And Thirteen is “Why not.” I have several dozen more of these but it upsets Management to hear them.

On a positive note this project has changed some of my bride Management’s opinions. She has always questioned the necessity of my “living on the edge” as she calls it and my alleged tendency to take chances. Since we started this new project she has acknowledged she has been mistaken in the past when she referred to “living on the edge.” I’ve always said the edge is never as close as you think and besides it is possible to use a cantilevered platform and actually live past the edge.

I recently wrote about one of our Jackasses that got stuck in the mud in the pond. Contrary to the unkind rumors, there was only one Jackass stuck not two. The other one being a smart ass stayed away. At no point was there ever more than one in the pond. When I correct these unkind people they laugh and say something like “weren’t you in there too?” I don’t know what they are implying.